Cloning, expression and uses of a secreted protein, F-spondin

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an isolated vertebrate nucleic acid molecule encoding F-spondin. This invention also provides a probe comprising a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an F-spondin. This invention further provides a method of attaching nerve cells to a matrix comprising contacting the matrix with nerve cells and purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to effect attachment of the cells to the matrix. This invention also provides a method of stimulating growth of a nerve cell comprising contacting the nerve cell with purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to stimulate growth of the nerve cell. This invention provides a method of regenerating nerve cells in a subject comprising administering to the subject purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to regenerate nerve cells in the subject. Finally, this invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and purified F-spondin.

This application is a 371 of PCT/US93/03164, filed Apr. 2, 1993, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/862,021, filed Apr. 2, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,966.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this application various references are referred to within parenthesis. Disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Full bibliographic citation for these references may be found at the end of this application, preceding the sequence listing and the claims.

The early development of the vertebrate nervous system is controlled by local cell interactions that determine the identity of specific neural cell types and the pathways of growing axons. One of the first cell types to differentiate within the embryonic nervous system is the floor plate, a small group of epithelial cells located at the ventral midline of the neural tube (Schoenwolf and Smith, 1990). The differentiation of the floor plate is induced by local, possibly contact-dependent signals from the notochord (FIG. 1) (van Straaten et al., 1988; Placzek et al., 1990c; Hatta et al., 1991). Signals that derive from the floor plate have been implicated in the control of cell identity in the neural tube and in the guidance of axons (FIG. 1) (Jessell and Dodd, 1991).

Evidence that the floor plate is a source of polarizing signals that control cell identity and pattern in the neural tube has come from experiments in chick embryos in which floor plate cells grafted next to the neural tube of host embryos give rise to additional ectopic motor neurons and to other ventral neuronal types defined by cell specific antigenic markers (Yamada et al., 1991; Placzek et al., 1991). Inversely, preventing floor plate differentiation by removing the notochord leads to the formation of a spinal cord that is devoid of motor neurons and other ventral neurons. These grafting experiments suggest that the floor plate has a central role in establishing the identity and pattern of neuronal cell types present in the ventral spinal cord. The floor plate also has limb polarizing activity when grafted into the chick wing bud, possibly through the release of morphogenically active retinoids (Wagner et al., 1990).

After the identity of spinal cord neurons has been established, the floor plate appears to provide both long-range and local guidance cues that promote the growth of axons to and across the ventral midline of the spinal cord. First, the floor plate secretes a diffusible chemoattractant which can orient the growth of axons of commissural neuron in vitro (FIG. 1) (Tessier-Lavigne et al., 1988; Placzek et al., 1990a; Tessier-Lavigne and Placzek, 1991) and may account for the homing of these axons to the floor plate in vitro (Weber, 1938; Placzek et al., 1990b; Bovolenta and Dodd, 1991; Yaginuma and Oppenheim, 1991). Second, the floor plate may contribute to the change in trajectory of commissural axons from the transverse to the longitudinal plane that occurs immediately after crossing the ventral midline (FIG. 1) (Holley and Silver, 1987; Dodd et al., 1988; Bovolenta and Dodd, 1990). In support of this proposal, genetic mutations in mice and zebrafish that result in the absence of the floor plate during embryonic development lead to errors in the pathfinding of commissural axons at the midline of the spinal cord (Bovolenta and Dodd, 1991; Bernhardt and Kuwada, 1990).

Third, the floor plate may promote the fasciculation of commissural axons that occurs after they cross the midline of the spinal cord (Holley and Silver, 1987) by regulating the expression of glycoproteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily (Dodd et al., 1988; Schachner et al., 1990; Furley et al., 1990). The specialized role of the floor plate in vertebrate neural development has parallels in invertebrate organisms in that cells at the midline of the embryonic Diosophila and C. elegans central nervous systems have been implicated in neural patterning and axon guidance (Klambt et al., 1991; Nambu et al., 1991; Hedgecock and Hall, 1990).

To identify molecules that may mediate the diverse functions of the floor plate during early neural development, subtractive hybridization techniques have been used to isolate cDNA clones expressed selectively by the floor plate. The characterization of cDNA clones encoding a novel secreted protein, F-spondin, that is expressed at high levels by the floor plate during embryonic development is described here. The predicted amino acid sequence of F-spondin reveals that the protein contains domains similar to those present in the thrombospondin and other proteins implicated in cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth. In vitro assays show that F-spondin promotes neural cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth suggesting that the secretion of this protein by the floor plate contributes to the growth and guidance of axons in the developing CNS.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an isolated vertebrate nucleic acid molecule encoding F-spondin. The isolated nucleic acid may be cDNA or RNA. The isolated vertebrate nucleic acid may be derived from human, rat, chicken or Xenopus.

This invention also provides a nucleic acid probe comprising a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of a nucleic acid molecule encoding F-spondin. The nucleic acid probe may be DNA or RNA.

This invention provides a method to obtain F-spondin nucleic acid molecule. In an embodiment, a rat F-spondin gene is isolated by substractive hybridization. In another embodiment, a chicken F-spondin gene is isolated by screening a chicken cDNA library using a rat F-spondin probe. In a further embodiment, a Xenopus F-spondin is also isolated.

This invention further provides a host vector system for the production of a polypeptide having the biological activity of F-spondin. The isolated vertebrate F-spondin nucleic acid molecule is linked to a promoter of RNA transcription and then to a plasmid. The suitable host is a bacterial cell, insect cell, or animal cell, depending on the type of promoter and plasmid used. This invention also provides a method of producing a polypeptide having the biological activity of F-spondin, which comprises growing the selected host vector system under suitable conditions permitting production of the polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide so produced.

This invention further provides purified vertebrate F-spondin. Such purified F-spondin will be useful for adhesion and outgrowth of axon. This invention provides a method of attaching nerve cells to a matrix comprising contacting the matrix with nerve cell and purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to effect attachment of the cells to the matrix. This invention further provides a method of stimulating growth of a nerve cell comprising contacting the nerve cell with purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to stimulate growth of the nerve cell. This invention provides a method of regenerating nerve cells in a subject comprising administering to the subject purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to regenerate nerve cells in the subject. Finally, this invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for stimulating nerve cell growth comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to stimulate nerve cell growth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1. Diagram showing the induction and proposed functions of the floor plate during early spinal cord development. For details see text.

FIG. 2. Schematic diagram of the subtractive hybridization protocol used to identify floor plate specific cDNA clones. For details see text.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C. Expression of F-spondin mRNA. Total cellular RNA or poly (A)⁺ RNA was isolated from different tissues and separated on 1% agarose-formaldehyde gels and blotted to nylon membranes. The blot was analyzed with cDNA probes derived from the F-spondin 3' noncoding region labelled by random priming.

3A. Preferential expression of F-spondin mRNA in E13 (embryonic day 13) floor plate compared with E13 dorsal spinal cord at adult spleen. Two transcripts of 4.5 and 4.7 kb are detected in floor plate RNA.

3B. NCAM, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, mRNA is expressed at approximately equivalent levels in E13 floor plate and dorsal spinal cord and P0 (postnatal; day 0) brain.

3C. F-spondin mRNA is detected in blots of total RNA adult kidney and brain but not in adult liver or sciatic nerve.

FIG. 4. Restriction map of the F-spondin cDNA. The arrow indicates the direction of translation. The restriction sites are indicated above the cDNA.

FIGS. 5A-5F. cDNA and predicted amino acid sequence of F-spondin.

5A-5E. Nucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 9) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 10) of rat F-spondin determined from cDNA clones. The numbering of amino acids starts at the first methionine. Underlined NH₂ terminal residues indicates the putative signal sequence. Potential sites of N-linked glycosylation are indicated by double lines.

5F. Analysis of the hydrophobicity of the predicted F-spondin amino acid sequence. The plot was generated using the parameters given in Kyte and Doolittle (1982). The NH₂ terminus of the protein is to the left. Negative values indicate hydrophobic residues.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. Alignment of the carboxy terminal domain F-spondin and homology to thrombospondin type one repeats in other proteins.

6A. Schematic representation of the domain structure of F-spondin. The black box represents the signal sequence. The hatched box represents the thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSRs).

6B. Alignment of the six repeats motifs in F-spondin which occupy residues 440-807 of the protein residues 440-499 (Seq. I.D. No.: 15); residues 500-556 (Seq. I.D. No.: 16); residues 557-612 (Seq. I.D. No.: 17); residues 613-666 (Seq. I.D. No.: 18); residues 667-722 (Seq. I.D. No.: 19) and residues 723-807 (Seq. I.D. No.: 20)!. The position of the first and last amino acids of each repeat is shown on the left. Numbers over each repeat refer to the position of residues. Positions in which there are four or more identical residues are enclosed in boxes.

6C. Comparison of the conserved F-spondin motif with the conserved TSRs found in thrombospondin I, (SEQ. I.D. NO.: 21) thrombospondin II (SEQ. I.D. NO.: 22), region II of the plasmodial circumsporooite (Cs) proteins (SEQ. I.D. NO.: 27) thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) (SEQ. I.D. NO.: 28), properdin (SEQ. I.D. NO.: 24) and in the N-and C-terminal regions of the complement proteins C6, C7, C8a, C8b and C9 (Seq. I.D. No.: 26 and Seq. I.D. No.: 25, respectively). The number at the right of the figure indicates the number of TSR domains that contain VTCG sequence (SEQ. I.D. NO.: 6) as a proportion of the total number of TSR domains.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F, 7G and 7H. Localization of F-spondin mRNA in the developing spinal cord.

7A. Autoradiographic localization of F-spondin mRNA in the hindbrain of a day 10 rat embryo by in situ hybridization using an antisense RNA probe. Intense hybridization is detected at the ventral midline of the neural tube and possible also in the axial mesoderm underlying the neural tube.

7B. Localization of whole mount in situ F-spondin mRNA by E11 (embryonic day 11) rat embryos hybridization histochemistry using digoxigenin-labelled antisense probe. Hybridization is detected in the floor plate of the midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord (arrow heads).

7C. Bright field micrograph showing localization of F-spondin mRNA in E12 (embryonic day 12) rat spinal cord. The floor plate is intensely labelled.

7D. Dark field micrograph of a similar section showing a low level of hybridization is in the ventral horn in addition to intense labelling in the floor plate. Hybridization is also detected in the ventral root.

7E. Dark field micrograph showing the floor plate and the ventral ventricular zone of E13 spinal cord express high levels of F-spondin mRNA.

7F. Bright field micrograph of E16 (embryonic day 16) spinal cord showing that F-spondin mRNA levels are still high in the floor plate and the ventral ventricular zone.

7G. Dark field micrograph showing that by E16, significant hybridization is also detected in ventral and intermediate regions of the spinal cord.

7H. Dark field micrographs showing a uniform distribution of F-spondin mRNA.

Scale bar: A=100 μm; B=350 μm; C=80 μm; E=100 μm; F=170 μm; G=170 μm; H=120 μm.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D. F-Spondin^(myc) is secreted by cos cells and associated with the cell surface.

8A. Position of insertion of an oligonucleotide encoding for a 10 amino acid region of the c-myc oncogene ligated into unique NcoI site or Spel sites within the F-spondin cDNA.

8B. Immunoprecipitation of conditioned media obtained by exposure of 40 h to cos cells transfected with pFP5myS, pFP5myN and to mock transfected cells. Both constructs generated a single protein band at 116 kDa.

8C. Phase contrast micrograph showing a small group of transfected cos cells.

8D. Immunofluorescence micrograph showing the localization of F-spondin^(myc) on the cell surface. Immunoreactivity is detectable at much higher levels at cell-cell rather than at cell-substrate contacts.

Scale bar in C, D=20 μm

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D. F-spondin^(myc) promotes the extension of neurites from DRG neurons in vitro. F-spondin^(myc) protein obtained from transfected cos cells supernatants was affinity purified and analyzed by SDS-PAGE(8-25%) and silver staining. (9A) Two stained bands are observed, which may reflect differences in the glycosylation of F-spondin. Neural cells isolated from E14 rat dorsal root ganglia were plated on F-spondin (9B) or on cos cell-conditioned media (9C) or BSA (not shown) substrates for 14h and then fixed and labelled with MAb 3A10 and visualized by indirect immunofluorescence. (9D) The length of the longest neurite of each 3A10-positive neurons was measured (or recorded as 0 mm if no neurite was seen). The percentage of neurons (ordinate) with neurites longer than a given length in μm (abscissa) is plotted. Similar results were obtained in 5 experiments. Only non-fasciculated neurites were included in the plots shown in D. Scale bar in B and C=100 μm.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E and 10F. F-spondin promotes the adhesion of dorsal spinal cord cells. A single cell suspension of E13 dorsal spinal cord cells (10⁶ cells/35 mm disk) was plated on, F-spondin^(myc) (10A and 10B), on BSA (10C) and on F-spondin^(myc) substrate in the presence of heparin (1 mg/ml) (10D), for 1 h. Cells were then washed in PBS, fixed and counted.

10E. Box plot showing dose-dependent adhesion of E13 dorsal spinal cord cells to different amounts of F-spondin^(myc) substrate. Each box represents cell counts from 10 different fields. Similar results were obtained in 3 separate experiments.

10F. Box plot showing inhibition of the adhesion of E13 dorsal spinal cord cells to F-spondin^(myc) in the presence of different concentrations of heparin and chondroitin sulfate. The inhibition at all concentrations of chondroitin sulfate and heparin is significant (p<0.001; Ttest). Scale bar in A, C, D=200 μm, B=50 μm

Box plot: The box enclosed 50% of the population with the median marked as a bold line and the mean as a dot. The range of the data is indicated by the extent of the lines. Each plot represents 10 determinations from one of three similar experiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides isolated vertebrate nucleic acid molecules which encode F-spondin. As used herein, the term F-spondin encompasses any amino acid sequence, polypeptide or protein having the biological activities provided by the F-spondin.

In one embodiment of this invention, the isolated nucleic acid molecules described hereinabove are DNA. In other embodiments of this invention, the isolated nucleic acid molecules described hereinabove are cDNA, or RNA. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the isolated nucleic molecules are cDNAs as shown in Sequence I.D. Nos. 9, 11 and 13.

This invention also encompasses DNAs and cDNAs which encode amino acid sequences which differ from those of F-spondin, but which should not produce phenotypic changes. Alternatively, this invention also encompasses DNAs and cDNAs which hybridize to the DNA and cDNA of the subject invention. Hybridization methods are well known to those of skill in the art.

The DNA molecules of the subject invention also include DNA molecules coding for polypeptide analogs, fragments or derivatives of antigenic polypeptides which differ from naturally-occurring forms in terms of the identity or location of one or more amino acid residues (deletion analogs containing less than all of the residues specified for the protein, substitution analogs wherein one or more residues specified are replaced by other residues and addition analogs wherein one or more amino acid residues is added to a terminal or medial portion of the polypeptides) and which share some or all properties of naturally-occurring forms. These sequences include: the incorporation of codons "preferred" for expression by selected non-mammalian host; the provision of sites for cleavage by restriction endonuclease enzymes; and the provision of additional initial, terminal or intermediate DNA sequences that facilitate construction of readily expressed vectors.

The DNA molecules described and claimed herein are useful for the information which they provide concerning the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide and as products for the large scale synthesis of the polypeptide by a variety of recombinant techniques. The molecules are useful for generating new cloning and expression vectors, transformed and transfected procaryotic and eucaryotic host cells, and new and useful methods for cultured growth of such host cells capable of expression of the polypeptide and related products.

Moreover, the isolated nucleic acid molecules are useful for the development of probes to study neurodevelopment.

F-spondin may be produced by a variety of vertebrates. In an embodiment, a rat F-spondin nucleic acid is isolated. A restriction map of the cDNA of rat F-spondin is shown in FIG. 4. The Xho1-Dra1 fragment of rat F-spondin was excised from the F-spondin cDNA. The Xho1 site was blunt-ended with T4 DNA polymerase, and Bgl2 linkers (12 mers) was ligated. The fragment was subcloned into BamH1 site of pBluescript SK (Strategene). The 5' of the gene is located near the T3 promoter. The resulting plasmid, pFP5/KS, encoding the rat F-spondin was deposited on Mar. 19, 1992 with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852, U.S.A. under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty for the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganism for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. Plasmid, pFP5/KS was accorded ATCC accession number 75215.

In another embodiment, a chicken F-spondin cDNA was isolated (Seq. ID No. 11). The translation initiates at nucleotide position 136. In a further embodiment, a partial Xenopus F-spondin was isolated (Seq. ID No. 13).

Throughout this application, references to specific nucleotides are to nucleotides present on the coding strand of the nucleic acid. The following standard abbreviations are used throughout the specification to indicate specific nucleotides:

C=cytosine A=adenosine

T=thymidine G=guanosine

For the purpose of illustration only, applicants used a substractive hybridization techniques to isolate and characterize F-spondin cDNA clones in rats. Similar substractive hybridization techniques are applicable to isolate and characterize the F-spondin genes in different vertebrates.

Alternatively, the F-spondin genes may be isolated using the probe generated from the rat F-spondin gene. The chicken and Xenopus homologous F-spondin genes have recently been cloned by applicants. These genes are extremely conserved and share 90% homology at the amino acid level and about 70% homology at the nucleic acid level. The chicken gene was isolated by low stringency screening of embryonic spinal cord cDNA library whereas the Xenopus F-spondin gene was isolated by low stringency screening of the whole embryo cDNA library, both using probes from the coding region of rat F-spondin.

For the human F-spondin gene, it is conceivable that the degree of homology between rat and human would be even greater since both rat and humans are mammals. Human embryonic brain cDNA library, available from Clontech, and human genomic library may be used for such screening. Duplicated filters of human libraries may be screened with radiolabelled probe derived from the rat F-spondin. The probe may be encompassing the coding region, since the homology of F-spondin across species is through the whole coding region. The filters containing the human libraries will be hybridized with the probes at low stringency (Sambrook et al. 1989) and positive clone will be further analyzed by DNA sequencing techniques which are well known to an ordinary skilled artisan.

This invention provides a nucleic probe comprising a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a F-spondin, for example, with a coding sequence included within the sequence shown in FIG. 5 and Sequence ID number 9. As used herein, the phrase "specifically hybridizing" means the ability of a nucleic acid molecule to recognize a nucleic acid sequence complementary to its own and to form double-helical segments through hydrogen bonding between complementary base pairs. Nucleic acid probe technology is well known to those skilled in the art who will readily appreciate that such probes may vary greatly in length and may be labeled with a detectable label, such as a radioisotope or fluorescent dye, to facilitate detection of the probe. DNA probe molecules may be produced by insertion of a DNA molecule which encodes F-spondin into suitable vectors, such as plasmids or bacteriophages, followed by transforming into suitable bacterial host cells, replication in the transformed bacterial host cells and harvesting of the DNA probes, using methods well known in the art. Alternatively, probes may be generated chemically from DNA synthesizers.

The probes are useful for `in situ` hybridization to locate tissues which express this gene, or for other hybridization assays for the presence of this gene or its mRNA in various biological tissues.

Vectors which comprise the isolated nucleic acid molecule described hereinabove also are provided. Suitable vectors comprise, but are not limited to, a plasmid or a virus. These vectors may be transformed into a suitable host cell to form a host cell vector system for the production of a polypeptide having the biological activity of F-spondin.

This invention further provides an isolated DNA or cDNA molecule described hereinabove wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of bacterial cells (such as E. coli), yeast cells, fungal cells, insect cells and animal cells. Suitable animal cells include, but are not limited to Vero cells, HeLa cells, Cos cells, CV1 cells and various primary mammalian cells.

This invention provides a method to identify and purify expressed F-spondin proteins. A myc-epitope was first introduced into the F-spondin protein. This F-spondin carrying myc-spondin may be linked to an expression vector. Such vector may be used to transfect cells and the distribution of F-spondin in the cells can be detected by reacting myc antibodies known to be reactive to the introduced myc-epitope with the transfected cells which express the F-spondin carrying myc-epitope. Taking advantage of this myc-epitope, F-spondin may be purified by an antibody affinity column which binds with this myc-epitope.

In one embodiment, myc-epitope is introduced in the Ncol site of the rat F-spondin. After that the SmaI (125), Dra (2731) fragment of the rat F-spondin was isolated. Bgl2 linkers were added, and the fragment was subcloned into the BamH 1 site of pcDNA neo (InVitrogene). The 5' end of the gene is located near the T7 RNA promoter. The resulting plasmid, pcFP5.myn, was deposited on Mar. 19, 1992 with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852, U.S.A. under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty for the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganism for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. Plasmid, pcFP5.myn was accorded ATCC designation number 75216.

The above uses of the myc-epitope for identification and purification of F-spondin should not be considered limiting only to the myc-epitope. Other epitopes with specific antibodies against them which are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art could be similarly used.

Also provided by this invention are complete F-spondin protein sequences (seq. ID Nos. 10, 12). In an embodiment a complete rat F-spondin protein sequence is disclosed (Seq. ID No. 10). In another embodiment a complete chicken F-spondin protein sequence is provided (Seq. ID No. 12). In a further embodiment a partial Xenopus F-spondin protein sequence is also provided (Seq. ID No. 14).

Further provided by this invention is a purified, F-spondin polypeptide. As used herein, the term "purified F-spondin" shall mean isolated naturally-occurring F-spondin or protein (purified from nature or manufactured such that the primary, secondary and tertiary conformation, and posttranslational modifications are identical to naturally-occurring material) as well as non-naturally occurring polypeptides having a primary structural conformation (i.e. continuous sequence of amino acid residues). Such polypeptides include derivatives and analogs.

F-spondin will be useful for adhesion and outgrowth of axon. Therefore, this invention also provides a method of attaching nerve cells to a matrix comprising contacting the matrix with nerve cells and purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to effect attachment of the cells to the matrix.

Methods to determine such a concentration are well-known in the art. The effective concentration of F-spondin may be determined by using different concentrations of purified F-spondin to the matrix and the nerve cell. The concentration in which attachment of the matrix and the nerve cell is observed is the effective concentration.

This invention further provides a method of stimulating growth of a nerve cell comprising contacting the nerve cell with purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to stimulate growth of the nerve cell.

This invention also provides a method of regenerating nerve cells in a subject comprising administering to the subject purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to regenerate nerve cells in the subject.

Finally, this invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for stimulating nerve cell growth comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and purified F-spondin at a concentration effective to stimulate nerve cell growth.

For the purposes of this invention "pharmaceutically acceptable carriers" means any of the standard pharmaceutical vehicles. Examples of suitable vehicles are well known in the art and may include, but not limited to, any of the standard pharmaceutical vehicles such as a phosphate buffered saline solutions, phosphate buffered saline containing Polysorb 80, water, emulsions such as oil/water emulsion, and various type of wetting agents.

This invention will be better understood from the Experimental Details which follow. However, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the specific methods and results discussed are merely illustrative of the invention as described more fully in the claims which follow thereafter.

Experimental Details Experimental Procedures Library Construction and Screening

Directional cDNA libraries were constructed in Lambda ZAP® II (Stratagene®) from embryonic day (E) 13 floor plate and dorsal spinal cord poly (A)+-selected RNA. The 5' ends of the cDNA inserts were located downstream of the T3 RNA polymerase promotor, and the 3' ends downstream of the T7 RNA polymerase promotor. DNA was prepared from the library using the plate lysate method (Sambrook et al., 1989). The DNA was linearized with XhoI and RNA was transcribed with T3 RNA polymerase (Stratagene®). RNA from the dorsal spinal cord library was transcribed in the presence of UTP-biotin (Clontec) diluted 1:10 with UTP. First-strand cDNA was transcribed from the T3 floor plate RNA using an oligo dT XhoI linker (Stratagene®).

Solution hybridization of first strand floor plate cDNA and the dorsal T3 biotinylated RNA was performed as described by Sive and St. John (1988). Approximately 1 μg of cDNA was hybridized with a 30-fold molar excess of RNA. The nucleic acids were dissolved in 10 μl of hybridization buffer containing 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.6), 0.2% SDS, 2 mM EDTA, 500 mM NaCl, and incubated at 68° C. Under these conditions, CoT values greater than 100 were obtained. The hybridization mixture was diluted to 60 μl with hybridization buffer without SDS, and 10 μg streptavidin was added. The cDNA/biotin RNA hybrids were removed by phenol-chloroform extraction. The remaining single strand cDNA was isolated and hybridized with a 300 fold excess of biotinylated RNA as described above. About 10% of the starting cDNA was recovered in the first hybridization and about 15-20% from the second hybridization.

The subtracted cDNAs were subjected to 20 cycles of a PCR reaction using oligo dT XhoI linker primer and SK primers (Stratagene®). The products of the PCR reaction were cut with EcoRI and XhoI, the primers and the flanking sequences were removed with sephacryl S-300 spin columns (Pharmacia®). The inserts were cloned into Lambda ZAP II arms.

Duplicate filters of the subtracted floor plate library were screened with radiolabelled first strand cDNA derived from floor plate and dorsal spinal cord. 100 ng of mRNA was incubated in 20 μl of 50 mM Tris pH 8.3, 10 mM MgCl₂, 150 mM KCl, 1.0 mM dGTP, 1.0 mM dTTP, 100 μCi 32p!dATP (3000 Ci/mmol), 100 μCi ³² P!dCTP (3000 Ci/mmol), 100 mg/ml oligo dT, 10 mM DTT, 10 U of RNasin (Promega), 20 U of MUlV reverse transcriptase (BRL), for 30 min in 37° C. 4×10³ recombinant phage were plated and screened. Hybridization and washes were performed at high stringency (Sambrook et al., 1989). The floor plate cDNA probe selectively hybridized with 24 phages. Cross hybridization analysis revealed that these phages corresponded to three different cDNAs designated FP2, FP5 and FP24. The pattern of expression in the spinal cord was determined by in situ hybridization. FP2 and FP5 are expressed selectively in the floor plate while FP24 is expressed in the floor plate, roofplate and in the ventricular zone of the spinal cord. The degree of enrichment as determined by screening the floor plate enriched library and floor plate library with FP2, FP5 and FP35, which is expressed selectively in the floor plate (McKanna & Cohen, 1989) is about 50-fold.

RNA Transfer Analysis

Total RNA was prepared from various tissues using the RNA Azol method (Biotex Laboratories) and then enriched for poly (A)⁺ containing transcripts by passage over an oligo (dT) cellulose matrix. RNA transfer was performed as described by Thomas (1980). Probes were labelled by random priming (Feinberg and Vogelstein, 1984) and hybridized under standard conditions.

DNA Seauencing and Analysis

cDNA inserts were excised directly as Bluescript plasmids (Stratagene®). The nucleotide sequence of the inserts were determined by the dideoxy chain-termination method (Sanger et al., 1977) using both double-stranded and single-stranded DNA as template for T7 DNA polymerase (Sequenase, United States Biochemicals). The nucleotide sequence of the entire coding region was determined by sequencing both strands. Sequences were assembled on an Apple Maclintosh computer using the MacVector (IBI) program.

In Situ Hybridization

In situ hybridization was preformed as described previously (Wilkinson et al., 1987) using a T3 or T7 RNA polymerase-derived ³⁵ S!UTP-labelled single stranded antisense RNA probe which encompasses a region of the 3' untranslated region of F-spondin (nt 3359-4029), or the TSRs (nt 1545-2626). Exposure times range from four to fourteen days. Sense probes were used as controls.

For whole mount in situ hybridization, E11 rat embryos were fixed in 0.1M MOPS, 2 mM EGTA, 1 mM Mg SO4, 3.7% formaldehyde for 2 hours. In situ hybridization was preformed essentially as described by Harland (1991), with a few modifications: anti-digoxygenin antibody (Boehringer Mannheim), was preabsorbed to E14 rat acetone powder (1%) (Harlow and Lane, 1988) before addition to the hybridization mixture. The chromogenic reaction was carried out for 1-2 h.

DNA Constructs

The myc epitope was introduced as follows: Two partially complementary oligonucleotides with the sequence: 5'-CTAGCGAGCAGAAGCTGATCTCCGAGGAGGACCTCA-3' (Seq. ID No. 1) and 5'-CTAGTGAGGTCCTCCTCGGAGATCAGCTTCTGCTCG-3' (Seq. ID No. 2) were annealed to obtain a double-stranded DNA fragment coding for the c-myc proto-oncogene epitope EQKLISEEDL (Seq. ID No. 3) flanked by a SpeI site. The fragment was cloned into a unique SpeI site (nt 1365) in F-spondin. The same epitope was also introduced into a NcoI site (nt 1575) using the oligonucleotides: 5'-CATGGGAGCAGAAGCTGATCTCCGAGGAGGACCTCG-3' (Seq. ID No. 4) and 5'-CATGCGAGGTCCTCCTCGGAGATCAGCTTCTGCTCC-3' (Seq. ID No. 5). The tagged F-spondin DNA was subcloned into the expression vector pMT21 (provided by Genetics Institute), or pcDNA-I (InVitrogen).

cos Cells Transfection

Cos cells were transfected by the DEAE-Dextran method as follows: 80% confluent overnight cultures were transfected with 5 μg DNA, per 100 mm dish, in 250 μg/ml DEAE Dextran (Pharmacia®), 100 mM Tris pH 7.3, in DMEM. After 6 h cells were washed and incubated in DMEM 10% calf serum, 0.1 mM choloroquine (Sigma) for 2.5 h, followed by incubation in DMEM 10% calf serum overnight. For isolation of F-spondin the medium was changed to OPTI-MEM (BRL), and the cells were incubated for 48 h.

Metabolic Labeling of Cos Cells and Immunoprecipitation

Transfected cos cells were preincubated in methionine-free DMEM (BRL®-GIBCO). After 1 h at 37° C., 250 μCi/ml ³⁵ S! methionine (NEN) was added, and the cells were incubated for an additional 3 h. The medium was collected and incubated with anti-myc antibody (MAb 9E10) for 1 h. The immune complex was precipitated with fixed Staphylococcus aureus (BRL®) for 1 h. Pellets were washed three times with PBS, before resuspension in 1x sample buffer. ³⁵ S-labelled immunoprecipitated proteins were visualized after electrophoresis on 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gels.

Immunocytochemistry

F-spondin tagged with the c-myc epitope was detected with MAb 9E10 (Evan et al., 1985). Fluoresceinated isotype-specific second antibody (Boehringer® Mannheim; goat antimouse IgG) was used at a dilution of 1:100. For immunofluorescence labelling (Dodd and Jessell, 1985), cultures were washed once at 22° C. with L15 and then incubated with primary antibody for 30 min at 22° C. Cultures were then washed twice in L15-1% normal goat serum (NGS) and incubated with secondary FITC conjugated isotype-specific antibody diluted in L15-1% NGS for 30 min at 22° C. Cultures were washed twice and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.2M phosphate buffer (PB) for 20 min, rinsed in 0.12M PB and coverslipped in 0.05% paraphenylenediamine (Sigma) in 0.2M sodium carbonate (pH 9.0); glycerol (1:1). Cultures were viewed on a Zeiss Axioplan microscope under epifluorescence optics.

Cell Culture

Spinal cords dissected from embryonic day (E) 13 rats and placed into L15 medium at 4° C. The dorsal region of the spinal cord was dissected and incubated with 0.05 trypsin (Gibco) for 20 min in a Ca²⁺ /Mg²⁺ -free modified essential medium (S-MEM) (Gibco) supplemented with 8 mg ml⁻¹ glucose. The tissue was then washed with S-MEM and triturated to give a single cell suspension. Spinal cord cells were plated in 35 mm tissue culture dishes on appropriate substrates and grown in Ham's E12 medium (Gibco) supplemented with N3 additive (F12-N3) (Romijin et al., 1982) at a density of 10⁶ cells/dish in a 5% CO2 humidified incubator at 37° C. Dorsal root ganglia were dissected from E14 rats and treated as described above. Cells were incubated with 0.1 trypsin, and plated with F12-N3 supplemented with 100 ng NGF at a density of 4×10⁴ /dish.

Neurite Outgrowth Assays

5×10¹⁰ cos cells were transfected with pFP5myN and conditioned medium was collected. F-spondin^(myc), was affinity purified on a monoclonal anti-myc (9E10) affinity column. Affinity purified F-spondin^(myc) (20 μl/ml) was absorbed onto nitrocellulose (Lemmon et al., 1989). For controls, parental cos cell conditioned medium was purified on the same column and used as a substrate on nitrocellulose. The nitrocellulose was then blocked with bovine serum albumin (10 mg/ml) which provided a further control for background neurite outgrowth. E14 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were plated on immobilized protein substrates at a density of 2-10×10⁴ cells/35 mm tissue culture dish (Nunc, 35 mm diameter) and grown for 14 h. Cultures were then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, permeabilized with 0.1% Triton X-100 and stained using MAb 3A10 (Furley et al., 1990; available from Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank), which recognizes a neuronal filament-associated protein and serves as a marker for fine neurites. Neuronal cell bodies and neurites were visualized by indirect immunofluorescence on a Zeiss Axioplan microscope. Neurite lengths were measured as the distance from the edge of the soma (sharply defined by 3A10 fluorescence) to the tip of its longest neurite. Neurite lengths were only measured if the entire length to the neurite could be unambiguously identified. About 25 neurites were measurable within each protein-coated area (3-4 mm²).

Adhesion Assay

Dissociated E13 dorsal spinal cord cells were plated on immobilized protein substrate at a density of 10⁶ cells/35 mm tissue culture dish (Nunc, 35 mm diameter). After one hour the cultures were washed twice with PBS and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. Cells were counted on a Zeiss Axioplan microscope at 400x magnification. Ten independent counts were taken from each experiment. The floor plate is a transient neural cell group implicated in the control cf cell pattern and axonal growth in the developing vertebrate nervous system.

Experimental Results Identification and Sequence of a Floor Plate-Enriched cDNA Clone

Cellular assays have revealed that the floor plate has several specialized signalling functions during the embryonic development of the spinal cord. Floor plate-derived signals are likely to be encoded by proteins whose mRNAs are restricted to or are highly enriched in the floor plate. In order to identify such molecules subtractive hybridization techniques have been used to isolate cDNA clones that are expressed by the floor plate but not by the dorsal spinal cord in embryonic day (E) 13 rat embryos (see FIG. 2 and Experimental Procedures). One cDNA clone identified in this screen, designated FP5, contained a 0.5 kb insert which hybridized to two major transcripts of 4.5 and 4.7 kb in poly (A)⁺ -selected RNA derived from E13 rat floor plate (FIG. 3A). Very faint hybridization to the same two transcripts was detected in RNA derived from E13 dorsal spinal cord (FIG. 3A) and post-natal day (P) 0 brain (FIG. 3C), whereas no hybridization was detected to RNA derived from adult liver and spleen (FIGS. 3A and 3C). The specificity of expression of FP5 transcripts within E13 rat spinal cord was confirmed by in situ hybridization histochemistry which showed that FP5 mRNA is expressed at very high levels in the floor plate but is undetectable in the dorsal region of E13 rat spinal cord (see below). These studies indicate that FP5 transcripts are highly enriched in the floor plate.

Screening of an E13 rat floor plate cDNA library with the 0.5 kb cDNA insert from the FP5 clone identified several additional cDNA clones of which clone FP5-9 contained a 4 kb insert. The FP5-9 cDNA contains a single long open reading frame that starts with a methionine codon at nucleotide 226 associated with a conventional translation initiation sequence (Kozak, 1984) and ends with a TGA stop codon at nucleotide 2646 (FIGS. 5A-5E). No in-frame methionine codons were found upstream of the putative translation initiation site and sequences 5' of the initiation site contain stop codons in all three reading frames. Sequencing of several other independently isolated FP5 cDNA subclones spanning the entire coding region did not reveal any differences in the nucleotide sequence of the open reading frame.

Translation of the open reading frame FP5-9 predicts a protein 807 amino acids with a molecular mass of 90,766 daltons, and N-terminal hydrophobic leader sequence (FIG. 5A; Seq. ID No. 9) with a consensus signal peptide cleavage site (von Heijne, 1985). No other long stretches of hydrophobic residues were observed (FIG. 5F) suggesting that the protein does not possess a transmembrane spanning domain. The amino terminal domain of FP5-9 contains a region of clustered basic residues (residues 138-142) which could represent a site for proteolytic processing by mammalian subtilisin-like cleavage enzymes (Steiner, 1991). In addition, the predicted protein contains three N-linked glycosylation sites (FIGS. 5A-5F). Collectively, these features suggest that the FP5-9 cDNA encodes a secreted protein.

The Protein Encoded by the FP5-9 cDNA has Structural Features of Cell and Substrate Adhesion Molecules

Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence of the FP5-9 encoded protein reveals that it is separable into two major domains (FIG. 6A). The NH₂ -terminal domain of 440 residues contains 10 cysteine residues and exhibits no sequence homology to other proteins in the Genbank database. The COOH terminal of the protein extends from residues 441-807 and contains six repeats of a domain 55-59 amino acids in length which can be aligned on the basis of conserved cysteine, tryptophan and arginine residues (FIGS. 6B and 6C).

Similar domains are present in a small number of proteins (Patthy, 1988; Smith et al., 1991). In particular, the adhesive glycoprotein encoded by the thrombospondin I and II genes (Lawler and Hynes, 1986; Bornstein et al., 1991) each possess 3 of these domains which have been designated thrombospondin type 1 repeats (TSRs) (Lawler and Hynes, 1986) (FIG. 6C). Two TSRs are found in protein C6-C9 of the alternative complement cascade, one at the NH₂ -terminal and one at the COOH-terminal of each protein (Haefliger et al., 1989; Smith et al., 1991). Moreover, the complement-binding protein properdin, contains 6 TSRs which comprise 80% of the protein (Goundis and Reid, 1988). In addition to these vertebrate proteins, the central core of the TSR is similar to region II of malarial circumsporozoite (CS) and other plasmodial proteins (FIG. 6C) (Rich et al., 1990; Robson et al., 1988) which appear to mediate the binding of malarial sporozoites to host cells in the early stages of parasitic infection (Dame et al., 1984). Finally, two TSRs are present in the C.elegans gene Unc-5, which appears to regulate axonal pathfinding in a subset of neurons (Hedgecock et al., 1990; Culotti et al., 1991). The organization of cysteine and tryptophan residues in the TSRs of the FP5-9 encoded protein is not similar to that of the NH₂ -terminal TSRs of the C6-C9 complement proteins (FIG. 6B). However, the core region of the TSRs in FP5-9 (residues 14-19) is most similar to that of thrombospondin, properdin and the malarial CS proteins (FIG. 6B). We have named the FP5-9 gene F-spondin to reflect its high level of expression in the floor plate (see below) and the presence of the TSRs.

The TSRs in thrombospondin promote the adhesion of a variety of different cell types (Prater et al., 1991). Similarly, the TSR core region of the plasmodium vivax CS protein promotes the attachment of human hematopoietic cell lines in vitro (Rich et al., 1990). The amino acid sequence VTCG which is contained within this common motif appears to be critical to the cell adhesive properties of the CS proteins. A VTCG sequence (Seq. ID No. 6) is also present in the two TSRs of thrombospondin that promote cell adhesion (Prater et al., 1991). Strikingly, there is a VTCG in the fourth TSR of F-spondin and the second and third TSRs of F-spondin contain sequences (VSCG, Seq. ID No. 7; ATCG, Seq. ID No. 8) that vary by a single conservative substitution (FIG. 6B). These observations raise the possibility that the TSRs in F-spondin mediate cell adhesion. A search of the Genbank database for other proteins implicated in cell adhesion and recognition that contain a VTCG sequence identified V-CAM1 (Hession et al., 1991) and the VLA4 integrin α subunit (Takada et al., 1989).

Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence of F-spondin reveals several other structural features that may contribute to the functional properties of the protein. The charged region that is interposed between the fifth and sixth TSRs contains the sequence LRE that has been shown to function as a neuronal cell attachment site in the extracellular matrix glycoprotein S-laminin (Hunter et al., 1989a, b). The first, third, fifth and sixth TSR's of F-spondin contain clusters of basic residues that have been implicated in the binding of proteins to heparin and other sulfated glycosaminoglycans (Cardin and Weintraub, 1989). The first, fourth and fifth TSRs of F-spondin also contain a WSXWS sequence (FIG. 6B) which is present in the variant fibronectin type III repeats found in the receptors for several growth and differentiation factors, including ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and the interleukins (ILs) 2-7 (Bazan, 1990; Davis, et al., 1991; Patthy, 1990). The function of the WSXWS motif is unclear although mutation at this site in the IL2 receptor blocks transmembrane signalling (Miyazaki et al., 1991).

Expression Pattern of F-Spondin mRNA

Northern blot analyses of E13 embryos indicate that F-spondin is expressed at much higher levels in the floor plate than in the dorsal spinal cord. More detailed information on the distribution of F-spondin was provided by localizing its mRNA in developing rat embryos by in situ hybridization. F-spondin mRNA was first detected at E10.5 in cells located at the ventral midline of the neural tube at the level of the prospective midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord (FIG. 7A). At this stage, cells at the ventral midline of the neural tube have acquired floor plate-derived chemoattractant activity (Placzek, et al., 1990c) although no antigenic markers of floor plate differentiation can be detected. The expression of F-spondin mRNA therefore provides an early molecular marker of floor plate differentiation.

The expression of F-spondin mRNA is maintained at high levels in E11-E12 floor plate (FIG. 7B) whereas other regions of the spinal cord and hindbrain exhibit undetectable levels of hybridization at this stage. By E12-E13 low levels of mRNA are detected in the ventral horn although there is still no detectable mRNA in the dorsal horn (FIGS. 7C and 7D). In addition, the ventral ventricular zone immediately above the floor plate begins to express high levels of F-spondin mRNA (FIG. 7D) whereas hybridization to cells in the ventricular zone in the dorsal half of the spinal cord is not detectable (FIG. 7E). Thus, expression of F-spondin mRNA reveals a molecular difference between ventricular zone cells in the dorsal and ventral spinal cord. Recent studies have suggested that the ventral ventricular zone is the site of origin of oligodendrocyte and astrocyte precursors that subsequently migrate laterally and dorsally to populate the remainder of the spinal cord (Miller, 1991). F-spondin mRNA levels remain high in the floor plate and ventral ventricular zone at E16 and by this stage significant hybridization is also detected in cells in the ventral and intermediate regions of the spinal cord (FIGS. 7F and 7G). By P0, the levels of F-spondin mRNA in the floor plate have decreased and there is an increase in hybridization to other cells in the spinal cord, resulting in an uniform expression of F-spondin mRNA (FIG. 7H). F-spondin mRNA is also preferentially expressed in the floor plate of the E11-E16 hindbrain and midbrain and becomes more widely expressed in the brain at later embryonic stages (not shown).

In addition to the expression of F-spondin in the embryonic CNS, from E11-E12 onwards hybridization is also detected in association with sensory and motor nerve branches that project into the periphery (FIG. 7D). The association with peripheral nerve branches suggests that F-spondin mRNA is expressed in Schwann cells. The expression of F-spondin mRNA in association with peripheral nerves persists until E16, but appears to decrease at later stages, and by P0, little or no hybridization is detected in peripheral nerve (FIG. 3C). These results provide evidence that over the period of initial outgrowth of central and peripheral axons, F-spondin mRNA is expressed predominantly by the floor plate with lower levels of expression in cells of the peripheral nerves, probably Schwann cells.

F-spondin mRNA is also expressed outside the nervous system. In particular, mesodermal cells underlying the ventral midline of the spinal cord express low levels of F-spondin mRNA from E11 (FIG. 7D). In addition, embryonic and P0 kidney (FIG. 3C), lung and condensing cartilage (not shown) expresses F-spondin mRNA. Expression of mRNA in the CNS, lung and kidney persists post-natally and in the adult (not shown).

Secretion and Cell Surface Association of F-Spondin

To determine the cellular localization of the F-spondin protein when expressed in mammalian cells, two epitope-tagged derivatives, F-spondin^(myc) were generated, each of which contain a 10 amino acid insert derived from the human c-myc proto-oncogene that can be detected by MAb 9E10 (Evan et al., 1985) (FIG. 8A). The cDNAs encoding F-spondin^(myc) were cloned into a mammalian expression vector and transfected into cos cells. To examine whether F-spondin^(myc) is present in medium conditioned by transfected cells, cos cells were labelled with ³⁵ S-methionine for 3-4 h and the released proteins were immunprecipitated with MAb 9E10. Immunoprecipitates from cos cells transfected with two different F-spondin^(myc) constructs revealed a single major band of 116 kDa that was absent from mock-transfected cells (FIG. 8B). Immunoprecipitation of proteins extracted from the cos cells indicated that the amount of F-spondin recovered from the medium was similar to that associated with the cells (not shown). Thus cos cells release a significant fraction of synthesized F-spondin^(myc). Other myc epitope-tagged proteins, for example the drosophila wingless protein, are synthesized by cos cells but are not detected in the medium (K. Basler, Personal communication) suggesting that the presence of F-spondin^(myc) in the medium does not result from leakage from damaged cells. Thus, under these in vitro conditions F-spondin^(myc) is secreted from cells. The apparent molecular weight of F-spondin determined by SDS-PAGE (116 kDa) is significantly greater than that predicted from the amino acid sequence (90 kDa). This difference in molecular weight may derive, in part, from glycoslyation of the core protein.

The cellular localization of F-spondin^(myc) in transfected cos cells was also determined by immunocytochemistry. High levels of immunoreactivity were associated with the cell surface (FIGS. 8C and 8D) with both F-spondin^(myc) constructs (FIG. 8A). No immunoreactivity was detected on the surface of untransfected cos cells (not shown).

The absence of a membrane spanning region and the presence of multiple heparin attachment sites in F-spondin suggests that the cell surface association of F-spondin^(myc) involves the binding of the secreted protein to the cell surface or extracellular matrix. In support of this, F-spondin^(myc) present in the medium removed from transfected cos cells was found to bind to the surface of untransfected cos cells in vitro (not shown).

F-Spondin Promotes Neural Cell Adhesion and Neurite Outgrowth in vitro

The structural features of F-spondin combined with its secretion and association with the cell surface raise the possibility that F-spondin can promote the adhesion of neural cells and the outgrowth of axons. Since F-spondin is expressed at highest levels in the floor plate, the effect of F-spondin on the adhesion and outgrowth of dorsal spinal cord cells include the population of commissural neurons that project to and across the floor plate was examined. In addition, the expression of F-spondin mRNA in peripheral nerves suggested that the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons might adhere to and extend neurites on F-spondin.

The F-spondin^(myc) protein was purified on a MAb 9E10 affinity column from medium exposed to transfected cos cells (FIG. 9A) and immobilized onto a nitrocellulose substrate (Lemmon et al., 1989). The ability of F-spondin^(myc) to promote the outgrowth of E14 DRG neurons was compared with that of MAb 9E10 affinity-purified proteins secreted from untransfected cos cells and BSA. Outgrowth of DRG neurons on EHS laminin was used as a positive control. Over 80% of DRG neurons extended neurites on F-spondin (FIGS. 9C and 9D) and the length of DRG neurites that extended on F-spondin was similar to that on laminin (not shown) and significantly greater than that on parental cos cell proteins and on BSA (FIGS. 9C and 9D). Similar results were obtained with both versions of F-spondin^(myc) (not shown). In addition, the number of DRG neurons that adhered to a substrate of F-spondin^(myc) after 18 h was about 3 fold greater than that to BSA and parental cos cell proteins, and similar to that on laminin (not shown). These observations provide evidence that F-spondin can promote the adhesion of DRG neurons and the extension of neurites in vitro. The expression of F-spondin by peripheral nerve cells in vivo occurs before many sensory neurons have extended peripheral projections and could therefore contribute to the growth of developing sensory axons in the peripheral nervous system.

The ability of F-spondin^(myc) to promote the adhesion and outgrowth of dorsal spinal cord cells was also examined. We found that dorsal spinal cord cells adhered well to F-spondin^(myc). Within 60 min (FIGS. 10A and 10E) the number of cells adhering to F-spondin was 10-15 fold greater than that to MAb 9E10 affinity-purified proteins secreted from untransfected cos cells or to BSA (FIGS. 10C and 10E). The majority (>60%) of the adherent cells are neurons as determined by detection of the polysialic acid side chain of NCAM with MAb 5A5 (not shown; see Dodd et al., 1988; Karagogeos et al., 1991). Moreover, many adherent spinal cord neurons extended short neurites during this time period (FIG. 10B). To examine further whether F-spondin promotes the outgrowth of spinal cord neurites the neurite length of adherent spinal cord neurons after 18 h in vitro was determined. The length of spinal cord neurites on F-spondin^(myc) had increased by 18 hours; however neurites outgrowth on purified cos cell proteins and on BSA has also increased significantly and was not detectably different from that on F-spondin^(myc). Thus it remains unclear whether F-spondin promotes extensive neurite outgrowth as well as the adhesion of spinal cord neurons.

The adhesion of a variety of cell lines to TSRs or to peptide derived from these repeats has been shown to be inhibited by glycosaminoglycans and other sulfated glycoconjugates (Roberts, 1988; Bernfield and Sanderson, 1990; Prater et al., 1991). Moreover, heparin sulfate proteoglycans have been suggested to function as cell surface receptors for thrombospondin (Holt et al., 1984; Sun et al., 1989; Bernfield and Sanderson, 1990). It is possible therefore that the interactions of neural cells with F-spondin may be inhibited by the addition of soluble glycosaminoglycans. It was found that adhesion of dorsal spinal cord neurons to F-spondin was markedly inhibited by heparin, dextran sulfate (not shown) and to a lesser extent by chondroitin sulfate (FIGS. 10D and 10F). To control for non-specific inhibition of the interactions of spinal cord cells with all adhesive substrates, it was determined that spinal cord neurons adhere well to fibronectin and it was found that their adhesion is not significantly affected by concentrations of heparin that block adhesion to F-spondin (not shown). Heparin also reduced to near background levels the adhesion of DRG neurons to F-spondin (not shown). It was not possible to determine whether the outgrowth of neurites from DRG neurons is also blocked by the addition of glycosaminoglycans because heparin caused the detachment of virtually all neurons from the F-spondin substrate, even when added to DRG neurons that had been permitted to settle on F-spondin for 2-3 h.

Experimental discussion

Floor plate cells are located at the ventral midline of the developing nervous system and have been implicated in the control of neural cell identity and in the guidance of developing axons (Jessell and Dodd, 1991). In order to identify genes that might contribute to the functions of the floor plate, subtractive hybridization techniques have been used to isolate cDNA clones encoding a novel protein, F-spondin. F-spondin mRNA expressed at high levels by the developing floor plate and at low or undetectable levels in other regions of the embryonic spinal cord over the period that axons first extend. The predicted structure of F-spondin together with its biochemical properties indicate that it is a secreted glycoprotein with homology to other proteins that mediate cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth. F-spondin promotes the adhesion and outgrowth of axons from embryonic neurons in vitro, suggesting that it may contribute to the growth and guidance of commissural axons at the ventral midline of the spinal cord and of sensory axons in the periphery.

Localization of F-Spondin

Several lines of evidence suggest that the F-spondin protein may be associated with the extracellular matrix. First, F-spondin has several clusters of basic residues that function as glycosaminoglycan binding domains in other secreted proteins. Second, F-spondin is associated with the surface of cos cell transfectants. Third, the complement binding protein properdin, which consists almost entirely of 6 TSRs has been shown to bind sulfated glycoconjugates (Holt et al., 1990).

The restricted distribution of F-spondin mRNA in the embryonic nervous system contrasts with that of other secreted glycoproteins which promote neural cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth. For example, the expression of F-spondin mRNA is more restricted than that of thrombospondin I (O'Shea and Dixit, 1988; O'Shea et al., 1990) and of tenascin/cytotactin (Wehrle and Chiqet, 1990) which appears to be widely expressed in the embryonic central nervous system. Similarly, laminin and fibronectin are expressed in many regions of the developing peripheral nervous system (Sanes et al., 1990). One glycoprotein which has a restricted distribution during nervous system development is S-laminin, an isoform of the laminin B chain (Hunter et al., 1989a).

The TSRs of F-Spondin may be Responsible for Neural Cell Adhesion and Axon Extension

The domains of F-spondin that mediate neural cell adhesion and neurite extension have not been mapped although several indirect lines of evidence suggest that the TSRs may be involved. First, proteolytic fragments of thrombospondin which contain the TSRs promote the adhesion of melanoma cells and antibodies directed against the TSRs domain block cell adhesion (Prater et al., 1991). Second, both native thrombospondin and a 140 kDa proteolytic fragment which includes the TSR domains promote the outgrowth of neurites from central and peripheral neurons in vitro (Osterhout and Higgins, 1990; Osterhout et al., 1992; Neugebauer et al., 1991; O'Shea et al., 1991). In addition, antibodies directed against the TSR domains block neurite outgrowth on thrombospondin (Osterhout and Higgins, 1990; Osterhout et al., 1992). Third, the plasmodial CS proteins, which contain the core domain of the TSRs also promote the adhesion of a wide variety of mammalian cells (Rich et al., 1990).

The adhesive properties of the CS proteins have been mapped to the VTCG (SEQ ID NO: 6) sequence (Rich et al., 1990). In addition, the two peptides derived from the TSRs in thrombospondin that are potent attachment factors for melanoma cells also contain the VTCG (SEQ ID NO: 6) sequence whereas the peptide derived from the third TSR which does not contain this sequence is not adhesive (Prater et al., 1991). Thus, the presence of a VTCG (SEQ ID NO: 6) in the fourth TSR of F-spondin suggests that this domain could be involved in the adhesive properties of F-spondin. Nevertheless, other domains within F-spondin may be involved in neural cell adhesion or neurite outgrowth. For example, the region interposed between the fifth and sixth TSR repeats of F-spondin contains an LRE sequence that mediates the neuronal attachment properties of S-laminin (Hunter et al., 1989b).

The ability of neural cells to adhere to and extend neurites on F-spondin suggests that there are neural receptors for this protein. The inhibition by heparin of the adhesion of dorsal spinal cord cells and DRG neurons to F-spondin suggests that proteoglycans may constitute neuronal F-spondin receptors or may regulate receptor function.

The conservation of TSRs in F-spondin and thrombospondin also raises the possibility that receptors for the TSR domains of thrombospondin may interact with the related domains of F-spondin. There is evidence that the TSRs of thrombospondin can interact with 3 distinct classes of cellular receptors (Frazier, 1991). First, thrombospondin and a VTCG-containing peptide (SEQ ID NO: 6) from the TSR core region can bind to an 88 kDa membrane glycoprotein, GPIV, or CD36, which is present on many cell types (Asch et al., 1990, 1991). Second, thrombospondin can bind to sulfated glycoconjugates including the heparin sulfate proteoglycan syndecan (Roberts, 1988; Sun et al., 1989; Holt et al., 1989; Bernfied and Sanderson, 1990). In addition, the adhesion of cells to VTCG-containing peptides (SEQ ID NO: 6) derived from the TSR domains of thrombospondin and plasmodial CS proteins can be inhibited by heparin and other glycosaminoglycans (Holt et al., 1990; Prater et al., 1991; Rich et al., 1991). Third, antibodies against integrins block neurite outgrowth on thrombospondin (Neugebauer et al., 1991). Since antibodies to the TSR domains of thrombospondin block the outgrowth of neurites on thrombospondin (Osterhout and Higgins, 1990; Osterhout et al., 1992) it is possible that sequences within the TSRs interact with neuronal integrins.

Possible Functions of F-Spondin in Neural Development

The most prominent expression of F-spondin in the embryonic nervous system is in the floor plate, an epithelial cell group that has been implicated in several aspects of spinal cord development. Midline neural plate cells that give rise to the floor plate undergo marked cell shape changes during the closure of the neural tube. Thus, one possible function of F-spondin could be to mediate adhesive interactions between floor plate cells that maintain the integrity of the floor plate during the formation of the embryonic spinal cord. The expression of F-spondin mRNA in floor plate cells is highest at the time that the floor plate has been suggested to have roles in the chemotropic (Tessier-Lavigne et al., 1988; Placzek et al., 1990a) and contact (Dodd et al., 1988) guidance of commissural axons. It is found that recombinant F-spondin^(myc) secreted from cos cells does not mimic the ability of the floor plate derived chemoattractant to promote the outgrowth of commissural axons from dorsal spinal cord explants (Klar, Placzek, Tessier-Lavigne, Dodd and Jessell, unpublished observations). This suggests that F-spondin may not be involved in the long-range guidance of commissural axons to the floor plate, at least through chemotropism.

F-spondin could be involved in the contact-dependent guidance of commissural axons once they reach the ventral midline of the spinal cord under the influence of chemotropic guidance cues. The growth cones of commissural neurons cross the midline by growing between the basal surface of floor plate cells and the underlying basal lamina (Kuwada et al., 1990; Yaginuma et al., 1991). F-spondin secreted by the floor plate may accumulate at high levels in association with the basal surface of floor plate cells or with the underlying basal lamina thus generating a difference in adhesive properties of the floor plate and the lateral neuroepithelium. The growth cones of commissural neurons may adhere preferentially to F-spondin, prompting them to change trajectory at the boundary of the floor plate and lateral neuroepithelium. It is also possible that F-spondin has a more active signalling role which induces changes in the properties of commissural growth cones that permits them to respond to other midline guidance cues. Several proteins are expressed selectively on the surface of floor plate cells at this stage of spinal cord development (Dodd and Jessell, 1988; Chuang and Lagenaur, 1990) and could provide cues that contribute to the guidance of commissural axons at the midline.

F-spondin mRNA is also expressed by cells in the peripheral nerve, presumably Schwann cells, from E11 to E16 over the period that motor and sensory axons project to their peripheral targets. Non-neuronal cells in peripheral nerve are known to secrete a variety of extracellular matrix glycoprotein, including laminin and fibronectin that can promote the growth of developing axons. Antibody inhibition studies have provided evidence for the existence of additional molecules that mediate neuronal outgrowth on peripheral nerve substrates (Tuttle et al., 1989). The ability of recombinant F-spondin to promote the outgrowth of embryonic sensory neurons in vitro suggests that the protein may be released by non-neuronal cells in the peripheral nerve and could contribute to the initial outgrowth of sensory axons in vivo.

Taken together, the present studies identify F-spondin as a novel secreted protein with potential roles in neural cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth in vivo. The development of antibodies that recognize native F-spondin will be important in determining the localization of the protein within the nervous system and in assessing its function in more detail.

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    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING                                                               (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                       (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 20                                                  (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 36 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                        CTAGCGAGCAGAAGCTGATCTCCGAGGAGGACCTCA36                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 36 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                        CTAGTGAGGTCCTCCTCGGAGATCAGCTTCTGCTCG36                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 10 amino acids                                                     (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                        GluGlnLysLeuIleSerGluGluAspLeu                                                 1510                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 36 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                        CATGGGAGCAGAAGCTGATCTCCGAGGAGGACCTCG36                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 36 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                        CATGCGAGGTCCTCCTCGGAGATCAGCTTCTGCTCC36                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 4 amino acids                                                      (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                        ValThrCysGly                                                                   (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 4 amino acids                                                      (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                        ValSerCysGly                                                                   1                                                                              (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 4 amino acids                                                      (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                        AlaThrCysGly                                                                   1                                                                              (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 4029 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 226..2647                                                        (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                        CCCTCCCTCTTCGCGCTCCTTCGCCACCGCCCGCCCCTCAGCTCCGCTGCTCGGCTCCGC60                 TCAGAGCAGCGCAGCTCCGCAGCCAAAGCGAGGCGGGCTCGGGCTCCCCACCGCCAGTGC120                CACCCGGGCTCCTCCAGCTTTCGCCTCTGCAGCTCCCGTCACTTGGAGTAAAAGTGTCCT180                GACAGGGGTCTGCAACATCAGCAGAAAGTTGGGAGGTCCTCGAGAATGAGGCTA234                      MetArgLeu                                                                      1                                                                              TCTCCCGCGCCCCTGAGGCTTAGCCGGGGTCCGGCGCTGCTGGCCCTG282                            SerProAlaProLeuArgLeuSerArgGlyProAlaLeuLeuAlaLeu                               51015                                                                          GCGCTGCCCCTGGCCGCAGCGCTCGCTTTCTCGGATGAGACCCTGGAC330                            AlaLeuProLeuAlaAlaAlaLeuAlaPheSerAspGluThrLeuAsp                               20253035                                                                       AAAGTGGCCAAGTCGGAGGGCTACTGCAGCCGCATCTTGCGCGCCCAG378                            LysValAlaLysSerGluGlyTyrCysSerArgIleLeuArgAlaGln                               404550                                                                         GGCACACGGCGTGAGGGATACACAGAGTTCAGCCTCCGCGTGGAAGGC426                            GlyThrArgArgGluGlyTyrThrGluPheSerLeuArgValGluGly                               556065                                                                         GACCCTGACTTCTATAAGCCAGGAAGCAGCTACCGAGTGACACTCTCG474                            AspProAspPheTyrLysProGlySerSerTyrArgValThrLeuSer                               707580                                                                         GCTGCCCCTCCCTCCTACTTCAGAGGCTTCACGTTAATTGCTCTCAAA522                            AlaAlaProProSerTyrPheArgGlyPheThrLeuIleAlaLeuLys                               859095                                                                         GAGAACCGCGAAGGCGATAAGGAAGAAGACCACGCGGGCACCTTCCAG570                            GluAsnArgGluGlyAspLysGluGluAspHisAlaGlyThrPheGln                               100105110115                                                                   ATCATAGATGAAGAAGAAACCCAGTTTATGAGTAACTGTCCTGTGGCA618                            IleIleAspGluGluGluThrGlnPheMetSerAsnCysProValAla                               120125130                                                                      GTCACTGAAAGCACCCCTCGGAGGAGGACACGGATCCAGGTGTTTTGG666                            ValThrGluSerThrProArgArgArgThrArgIleGlnValPheTrp                               135140145                                                                      ATAGCGCCACCCACAGGGACAGGCTGTGTGATTCTGAAGGCCAGCATT714                            IleAlaProProThrGlyThrGlyCysValIleLeuLysAlaSerIle                               150155160                                                                      GTACAGAAACGCATTATCTATTTTCAAGACGAGGGCTCCCTGACCAAG762                            ValGlnLysArgIleIleTyrPheGlnAspGluGlySerLeuThrLys                               165170175                                                                      AAGCTGTGTGAACAGGATCCCACACTTGATGGAGTGACGGACAGACCG810                            LysLeuCysGluGlnAspProThrLeuAspGlyValThrAspArgPro                               180185190195                                                                   ATCTTAGACTGCTGCGCCTGCGGAACTGCCAAGTACAGACTCACGTTT858                            IleLeuAspCysCysAlaCysGlyThrAlaLysTyrArgLeuThrPhe                               200205210                                                                      TATGGGAACTGGTCGGAGAAGACTCATCCAAAGGATTACCCTCGTCGG906                            TyrGlyAsnTrpSerGluLysThrHisProLysAspTyrProArgArg                               215220225                                                                      GCTAATCACTGGTCTGCCATCATTGGCGGATCCCACTCCAAGAACTAC954                            AlaAsnHisTrpSerAlaIleIleGlyGlySerHisSerLysAsnTyr                               230235240                                                                      GTGCTGTGGGAGTACGGAGGGTATGCCAGTGAAGGGGTCAAGCAAGTT1002                           ValLeuTrpGluTyrGlyGlyTyrAlaSerGluGlyValLysGlnVal                               245250255                                                                      GCTGAACTTGGCTCACCAGTAAAAATGGAGGAAGAAATTCGACAACAG1050                           AlaGluLeuGlySerProValLysMetGluGluGluIleArgGlnGln                               260265270275                                                                   AGTGATGAAGTCCTCACTGTCATCAAAGCCAAAGCCCAGTGGCCATCC1098                           SerAspGluValLeuThrValIleLysAlaLysAlaGlnTrpProSer                               280285290                                                                      TGGCAGCCTGTCAATGTGAGAGCAGCACCCTCAGCCGAATTCTCAGTG1146                           TrpGlnProValAsnValArgAlaAlaProSerAlaGluPheSerVal                               295300305                                                                      GACAGGACACGCCACTTGATGTCCTTCCTAACCATGATGGGCCCCAGT1194                           AspArgThrArgHisLeuMetSerPheLeuThrMetMetGlyProSer                               310315320                                                                      CCTGACTGGAACGTGGGCCTATCTGCAGAGGATCTGTGCACCAAGGAG1242                           ProAspTrpAsnValGlyLeuSerAlaGluAspLeuCysThrLysGlu                               325330335                                                                      TGTGGCTGGGTCCAGAAAGTGGTGCAGGACCTAATTCCCTGGGATGCT1290                           CysGlyTrpValGlnLysValValGlnAspLeuIleProTrpAspAla                               340345350355                                                                   GGCACGGACAGCGGGGTGACCTACGAGTCACCAAACAAGCCCACAATT1338                           GlyThrAspSerGlyValThrTyrGluSerProAsnLysProThrIle                               360365370                                                                      CCTCAGGAAAAAATCCGACCCCTGACTAGTCTGGACCATCCTCAGAGT1386                           ProGlnGluLysIleArgProLeuThrSerLeuAspHisProGlnSer                               375380385                                                                      CCTTTCTATGACCCGGAAGGTGGGTCCATCACACAAGTGGCCAGAGTC1434                           ProPheTyrAspProGluGlyGlySerIleThrGlnValAlaArgVal                               390395400                                                                      GTCATCGAGAGAATTGCCCGGAAGGGAGAACAATGCAACATTGTACCT1482                           ValIleGluArgIleAlaArgLysGlyGluGlnCysAsnIleValPro                               405410415                                                                      GACAATGTGGATGATATTGTAGCCGACCTGGCTCCAGAAGAGAAAGAT1530                           AspAsnValAspAspIleValAlaAspLeuAlaProGluGluLysAsp                               420425430435                                                                   GAAGATGACACCCCTGAAACCTGCATCTACTCCAACTGGTCCCCATGG1578                           GluAspAspThrProGluThrCysIleTyrSerAsnTrpSerProTrp                               440445450                                                                      TCGGCCTGCAGCTCTTCCACTTGTGAAAAGGGTAAGAGGATGCGGCAA1626                           SerAlaCysSerSerSerThrCysGluLysGlyLysArgMetArgGln                               455460465                                                                      CGCATGCTGAAGGCACAGCTGGACCTCAGTGTCCCCTGTCCTGACACC1674                           ArgMetLeuLysAlaGlnLeuAspLeuSerValProCysProAspThr                               470475480                                                                      CAGGACTTCCAGCCCTGCATGGGCCCCGGCTGCAGCGATGAAGATGGC1722                           GlnAspPheGlnProCysMetGlyProGlyCysSerAspGluAspGly                               485490495                                                                      TCCACCTGTACCATGTCGGAGTGGATCACCTGGTCACCCTGCAGTGTC1770                           SerThrCysThrMetSerGluTrpIleThrTrpSerProCysSerVal                               500505510515                                                                   TCGTGTGGCATGGGTATGAGGTCCCGGGAGAGGTACGTGAAGCAGTTC1818                           SerCysGlyMetGlyMetArgSerArgGluArgTyrValLysGlnPhe                               520525530                                                                      CCGGAAGACGGCTCGGTGTGCATGCTGCCCACGGAAGAGACAGAGAAG1866                           ProGluAspGlySerValCysMetLeuProThrGluGluThrGluLys                               535540545                                                                      TGCACGGTCAACGAGGAGTGCTCTCCTAGCAGCTGCCTGGTGACTGAG1914                           CysThrValAsnGluGluCysSerProSerSerCysLeuValThrGlu                               550555560                                                                      TGGGGTGAGTGGGATGACTGCAGCGCCACCTGTGGAATGGGCATGAAG1962                           TrpGlyGluTrpAspAspCysSerAlaThrCysGlyMetGlyMetLys                               565570575                                                                      AAGCGGCACCGCATGGTCAAGATGAGCCCCGCGGACGGCTCCATGTGC2010                           LysArgHisArgMetValLysMetSerProAlaAspGlySerMetCys                               580585590595                                                                   AAGGCGGAGACTTCGCAGGCGGAGAAATGCATGATGCCTGAGTGCCAT2058                           LysAlaGluThrSerGlnAlaGluLysCysMetMetProGluCysHis                               600605610                                                                      ACCATCCCGTGCTTGCTGTCTCCTTGGTCCGAGTGGAGCGACTGTAGC2106                           ThrIleProCysLeuLeuSerProTrpSerGluTrpSerAspCysSer                               615620625                                                                      GTGACCTGTGGGAAGGGCATGCGGACGCGCCAGCGGATGCTCAAGTCT2154                           ValThrCysGlyLysGlyMetArgThrArgGlnArgMetLeuLysSer                               630635640                                                                      CTGGCAGAGCTGGGGGACTGTAATGAGGATCTGGAGCAGGCGGAGAAG2202                           LeuAlaGluLeuGlyAspCysAsnGluAspLeuGluGlnAlaGluLys                               645650655                                                                      TGTATGCTGCCAGAGTGCCCCATTGACTGCGAACTCAGTGAGTGGTCC2250                           CysMetLeuProGluCysProIleAspCysGluLeuSerGluTrpSer                               660665670675                                                                   CAGTGGTCTGAATGTAACAAGTCCTGTGGGAAAGGTCACATGATTCGA2298                           GlnTrpSerGluCysAsnLysSerCysGlyLysGlyHisMetIleArg                               680685690                                                                      ACCCGGACAATCCAAATGGAACCTCAGTTTGGAGGTGCACCCTGCCCA2346                           ThrArgThrIleGlnMetGluProGlnPheGlyGlyAlaProCysPro                               695700705                                                                      GAGACTGTGCAACGCAAGAAGTGCCGTGCCCGGAAATGCCTTCGCAGC2394                           GluThrValGlnArgLysLysCysArgAlaArgLysCysLeuArgSer                               710715720                                                                      CCATCGATCCAGAAGCTGCGCTGGAGGGAGGCCCGAGAGAGCAGGAGG2442                           ProSerIleGlnLysLeuArgTrpArgGluAlaArgGluSerArgArg                               725730735                                                                      AGTGAGCAGCTGAGGGAAGAGTCAGATGGAGAGCAGTTCCCAGGCTGT2490                           SerGluGlnLeuArgGluGluSerAspGlyGluGlnPheProGlyCys                               740745750755                                                                   CGGATGCGCCCGTGGACAGCCTGGTCAGAGTGCACCAAACTGTGCGGA2538                           ArgMetArgProTrpThrAlaTrpSerGluCysThrLysLeuCysGly                               760765770                                                                      GGTGGGATCCAAGAACGCTACATGACTGTGAAGAAGAGGTTCAAAAGC2586                           GlyGlyIleGlnGluArgTyrMetThrValLysLysArgPheLysSer                               775780785                                                                      TCCCAGTTTACCAGCTGCAAAGACAAGAAGGAGATCAGAGCGTGCAAC2634                           SerGlnPheThrSerCysLysAspLysLysGluIleArgAlaCysAsn                               790795800                                                                      GTGCACCCTTGTTAGTAGGGGTTCAACTCCCCAGGGCTGCATTCCAGATTCTA2687                      ValHisProCys                                                                   805                                                                            GTCACCAATGGTTGGGTGGTGTATTTGCTTGTTTAAGATGATTTAAATTGTGTCCACATG2747               TTTTCATTTTTACCGGTGTGGTTTGCCCAATAGTCTTATGGAGGCCGAGGGACATCTTGT2807               CTGAATACTTCTTGGTGAGTACAGGCCAAGCGGGGCATCTTGTCCCCAGGCGCCATCTTC2867               CTGCACTGAGTTGAGTAGTGTTGGTTCACCTTGGTACTAAACTGAATCGTGTCCCTCTGG2927               AGCATCCCCTGGTCAAGCAGGGTGGAGACTTTGGCCATCCACAAGGAGAAGCAACCAGGA2987               TGCAGCATGCGGGAGACACAGCCATTAATTGCAAAGGACAGATCCTCCTCTCTCACCTTT3047               GGCCTGCTCACTCTTACAGAAACCTGTTTGTCCGCCTCCTTTTTTATTTAGCACAACTCC3107               AGGCATCTTGGTAAGTCTCCAGGGTCATGGGTTCTTCGGTGCCCTGAAGGAGAAGCCCTG3167               AGGTGAGGTGGCATTTGTTACAAACCTCCCAATACTGCTTTACTGGCATCACAAGGTCAG3227               CAGGTGATGATGGCTACTTCATTTCATTGTGAGCCGTGATTTCCGTTGAGTTTTGATTGT3287               TGGTGCCATAAATGTCCTAGGATGCTGGACGGACACATCAGCCTTGTCAGCAGATCCTTC3347               TTTGAGCCAATGTAGACAGTAAGCTGGGCACTGGTTCCAAAGCCAACTTAAAATCTTCCT3407               ACACATATCCAGACCTTTTTTTAGGTTGCCCAAACTTCCTTAGAATAAAGCATTTTAGCT3467               CTGAGAACTACTTGATAAGTCTGCCAGGAAGCCCCCAAGTCAATTCTTCAACAAAAATAC3527               TATCTTCCCTACTTAATTTTTTTTAAGTCATGATATTTTATAGTTAGAGGAGAGAGAGAC3587               AATCTATTCCCATGACTAAGACACAAACCTACAAGAAAGGGTTACTCAGTCAAGCCTGTG3647               CCTGACTTCTGGACCAGGCCCCTGATTTTCATGGATAGTCCAAAGGAAGGCCAGGGGTTC3707               CCACTGACTCCAAGCCATCAGCAGCACCCAAACCCAGGAGCAACAAATATTCAGAGAAAG3767               AGGATGTTTATCTCAGCTATGAGCTCATTGGCAGGTTGTACTCATGCATCTGTTAAAAGC3827               ACCACCACATCCTTTTGCAAGTCTGTTTATTACCGCTTCATCCAAATACATTTTGTGGTC3887               AAGATCGACACAGTGCTATGAATACAGTACTTTAAGGTCTGCATTAAACACATCAGAATA3947               TTTCCTGCCACATCTATGTACAACCCCTGAATATGTATTTTTCCTTAACACAAGAGAGCC4007               TGTTCAATTAAAAAAAAAAAAA4029                                                     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 807 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                                       MetArgLeuSerProAlaProLeuArgLeuSerArgGlyProAlaLeu                               151015                                                                         LeuAlaLeuAlaLeuProLeuAlaAlaAlaLeuAlaPheSerAspGlu                               202530                                                                         ThrLeuAspLysValAlaLysSerGluGlyTyrCysSerArgIleLeu                               354045                                                                         ArgAlaGlnGlyThrArgArgGluGlyTyrThrGluPheSerLeuArg                               505560                                                                         ValGluGlyAspProAspPheTyrLysProGlySerSerTyrArgVal                               65707580                                                                       ThrLeuSerAlaAlaProProSerTyrPheArgGlyPheThrLeuIle                               859095                                                                         AlaLeuLysGluAsnArgGluGlyAspLysGluGluAspHisAlaGly                               100105110                                                                      ThrPheGlnIleIleAspGluGluGluThrGlnPheMetSerAsnCys                               115120125                                                                      ProValAlaValThrGluSerThrProArgArgArgThrArgIleGln                               130135140                                                                      ValPheTrpIleAlaProProThrGlyThrGlyCysValIleLeuLys                               145150155160                                                                   AlaSerIleValGlnLysArgIleIleTyrPheGlnAspGluGlySer                               165170175                                                                      LeuThrLysLysLeuCysGluGlnAspProThrLeuAspGlyValThr                               180185190                                                                      AspArgProIleLeuAspCysCysAlaCysGlyThrAlaLysTyrArg                               195200205                                                                      LeuThrPheTyrGlyAsnTrpSerGluLysThrHisProLysAspTyr                               210215220                                                                      ProArgArgAlaAsnHisTrpSerAlaIleIleGlyGlySerHisSer                               225230235240                                                                   LysAsnTyrValLeuTrpGluTyrGlyGlyTyrAlaSerGluGlyVal                               245250255                                                                      LysGlnValAlaGluLeuGlySerProValLysMetGluGluGluIle                               260265270                                                                      ArgGlnGlnSerAspGluValLeuThrValIleLysAlaLysAlaGln                               275280285                                                                      TrpProSerTrpGlnProValAsnValArgAlaAlaProSerAlaGlu                               290295300                                                                      PheSerValAspArgThrArgHisLeuMetSerPheLeuThrMetMet                               305310315320                                                                   GlyProSerProAspTrpAsnValGlyLeuSerAlaGluAspLeuCys                               325330335                                                                      ThrLysGluCysGlyTrpValGlnLysValValGlnAspLeuIlePro                               340345350                                                                      TrpAspAlaGlyThrAspSerGlyValThrTyrGluSerProAsnLys                               355360365                                                                      ProThrIleProGlnGluLysIleArgProLeuThrSerLeuAspHis                               370375380                                                                      ProGlnSerProPheTyrAspProGluGlyGlySerIleThrGlnVal                               385390395400                                                                   AlaArgValValIleGluArgIleAlaArgLysGlyGluGlnCysAsn                               405410415                                                                      IleValProAspAsnValAspAspIleValAlaAspLeuAlaProGlu                               420425430                                                                      GluLysAspGluAspAspThrProGluThrCysIleTyrSerAsnTrp                               435440445                                                                      SerProTrpSerAlaCysSerSerSerThrCysGluLysGlyLysArg                               450455460                                                                      MetArgGlnArgMetLeuLysAlaGlnLeuAspLeuSerValProCys                               465470475480                                                                   ProAspThrGlnAspPheGlnProCysMetGlyProGlyCysSerAsp                               485490495                                                                      GluAspGlySerThrCysThrMetSerGluTrpIleThrTrpSerPro                               500505510                                                                      CysSerValSerCysGlyMetGlyMetArgSerArgGluArgTyrVal                               515520525                                                                      LysGlnPheProGluAspGlySerValCysMetLeuProThrGluGlu                               530535540                                                                      ThrGluLysCysThrValAsnGluGluCysSerProSerSerCysLeu                               545550555560                                                                   ValThrGluTrpGlyGluTrpAspAspCysSerAlaThrCysGlyMet                               565570575                                                                      GlyMetLysLysArgHisArgMetValLysMetSerProAlaAspGly                               580585590                                                                      SerMetCysLysAlaGluThrSerGlnAlaGluLysCysMetMetPro                               595600605                                                                      GluCysHisThrIleProCysLeuLeuSerProTrpSerGluTrpSer                               610615620                                                                      AspCysSerValThrCysGlyLysGlyMetArgThrArgGlnArgMet                               625630635640                                                                   LeuLysSerLeuAlaGluLeuGlyAspCysAsnGluAspLeuGluGln                               645650655                                                                      AlaGluLysCysMetLeuProGluCysProIleAspCysGluLeuSer                               660665670                                                                      GluTrpSerGlnTrpSerGluCysAsnLysSerCysGlyLysGlyHis                               675680685                                                                      MetIleArgThrArgThrIleGlnMetGluProGlnPheGlyGlyAla                               690695700                                                                      ProCysProGluThrValGlnArgLysLysCysArgAlaArgLysCys                               705710715720                                                                   LeuArgSerProSerIleGlnLysLeuArgTrpArgGluAlaArgGlu                               725730735                                                                      SerArgArgSerGluGlnLeuArgGluGluSerAspGlyGluGlnPhe                               740745750                                                                      ProGlyCysArgMetArgProTrpThrAlaTrpSerGluCysThrLys                               755760765                                                                      LeuCysGlyGlyGlyIleGlnGluArgTyrMetThrValLysLysArg                               770775780                                                                      PheLysSerSerGlnPheThrSerCysLysAspLysLysGluIleArg                               785790795800                                                                   AlaCysAsnValHisProCys                                                          805                                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 3226 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 136..2543                                                        (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                                       GTGTCCCTCCCTCCTCCCTCCCTCCCTCTCTCCCTCCCTCCCCGCCTGCCCCCTCCCCGC60                 CTCTCCCCTCCCCTCTCCCGCGCCGCAGCCTCCCCCGGGCCGCCCGGCGCTGCCCGAGCT120                GTGCGGGCGCCGAGGATGGCAGCGCGGCTGCGGCCCCTGGCCCTGCGGCTG171                         MetAlaAlaArgLeuArgProLeuAlaLeuArgLeu                                           1510                                                                           CTGGCGCGCACCTTCCCCTTGGTGGCGAGGGGCTTCTCCGACGAGACC219                            LeuAlaArgThrPheProLeuValAlaArgGlyPheSerAspGluThr                               152025                                                                         CTGGAGAAAGCCGCCAAATCCGAGGGCTACTGCAGCCGGATCCTGCGA267                            LeuGluLysAlaAlaLysSerGluGlyTyrCysSerArgIleLeuArg                               303540                                                                         GCCCAAGGCACCAGGAGGGAAGGGTACAATGAATTTAGCCTGAGGGTG315                            AlaGlnGlyThrArgArgGluGlyTyrAsnGluPheSerLeuArgVal                               45505560                                                                       GAGGGCGATCCGGAATTCTACAAGCCTGGGAACAGTTACCGCGTGACG363                            GluGlyAspProGluPheTyrLysProGlyAsnSerTyrArgValThr                               657075                                                                         CTTTCTGCTGCCACTCCTGCGTACTTTCGAGGATTCACATTGATTGCT411                            LeuSerAlaAlaThrProAlaTyrPheArgGlyPheThrLeuIleAla                               808590                                                                         CTGAAGGAAGGAAAAGAAGGTGATAAAGAGGAAGACCATGCGGGAACT459                            LeuLysGluGlyLysGluGlyAspLysGluGluAspHisAlaGlyThr                               95100105                                                                       TTTCAGATCATAGATGAAGAAGAGACGCAGTTCATGAGCAATTGTCCC507                            PheGlnIleIleAspGluGluGluThrGlnPheMetSerAsnCysPro                               110115120                                                                      GTCGCGGTTACTGAGAGCACACCTAGAAGGAGGACACGCATCCAGGTC555                            ValAlaValThrGluSerThrProArgArgArgThrArgIleGlnVal                               125130135140                                                                   TTCTGGACAGCTCCTCCTACTGGTACGGGCTGTGTCATTCTGAAAGCC603                            PheTrpThrAlaProProThrGlyThrGlyCysValIleLeuLysAla                               145150155                                                                      AGTATTGTGCAGAAGCGCATTATTTATTTTCAGGACGAGGGTTCTCTC651                            SerIleValGlnLysArgIleIleTyrPheGlnAspGluGlySerLeu                               160165170                                                                      ACCAAAAGAATCTGTGAACAAGATTCAGCCTCTGAAGGTGTGACTGAC699                            ThrLysArgIleCysGluGlnAspSerAlaSerGluGlyValThrAsp                               175180185                                                                      AAACCAACATTAGATTGCTGTGCCTGTGGAACTGCCAAATACAGGCTA747                            LysProThrLeuAspCysCysAlaCysGlyThrAlaLysTyrArgLeu                               190195200                                                                      ACGTTTTATGGAAATTGGTCGGAAAAAACACATCCCAAAGACTTTCCT795                            ThrPheTyrGlyAsnTrpSerGluLysThrHisProLysAspPhePro                               205210215220                                                                   CGGCGCACCAACCATTGGTCTGCGATCATTGGTAGCTCTCACTCAAAG843                            ArgArgThrAsnHisTrpSerAlaIleIleGlySerSerHisSerLys                               225230235                                                                      AACTACATCCTTTGGGAGTATGGAGGGTATGCTAGTGAAGGTGTCAAG891                            AsnTyrIleLeuTrpGluTyrGlyGlyTyrAlaSerGluGlyValLys                               240245250                                                                      CAGGTTGCAGAGCTGGGATCCCCAGTCAAGATGGAAGAAGAAATTCGA939                            GlnValAlaGluLeuGlySerProValLysMetGluGluGluIleArg                               255260265                                                                      CAACAAAGTGATGAGGTTTTAACAGTCATCAAGGCAAAAGCACAGTGG987                            GlnGlnSerAspGluValLeuThrValIleLysAlaLysAlaGlnTrp                               270275280                                                                      CCTGCCTGGCAGCCTCTGAATGTGAGAGCTGCTCCCTCTGCTGAGTTT1035                           ProAlaTrpGlnProLeuAsnValArgAlaAlaProSerAlaGluPhe                               285290295300                                                                   TCTGTTGATCGCCACCGGCACCTGATGTCCTTCCTCACCATGCTGGGG1083                           SerValAspArgHisArgHisLeuMetSerPheLeuThrMetLeuGly                               305310315                                                                      CCCAGTCCCGACTGGAATGTGGGCCTGTCTGCTGAGGACCTCTGCACC1131                           ProSerProAspTrpAsnValGlyLeuSerAlaGluAspLeuCysThr                               320325330                                                                      AAGGACTGTGGCTGGGTTCAGAAAGTCGTGCAGGATTTAATCCCCTGG1179                           LysAspCysGlyTrpValGlnLysValValGlnAspLeuIleProTrp                               335340345                                                                      GATGCCGGCACAGACAGTGGCGTCACCTATGAGTCACCCAACAAACCT1227                           AspAlaGlyThrAspSerGlyValThrTyrGluSerProAsnLysPro                               350355360                                                                      ACAGTTCCTCAAGAGAAGATTAGACCACTTACAAGCTTAGATCACCCT1275                           ThrValProGlnGluLysIleArgProLeuThrSerLeuAspHisPro                               365370375380                                                                   CAGAGTCCATTTTATGATCCAGAAGGAGGATCTATCAAGCTTGTAGCC1323                           GlnSerProPheTyrAspProGluGlyGlySerIleLysLeuValAla                               385390395                                                                      AGAGTCGTGCTTGAAAGAATTGCACGCAAGGGGGAGCAGTGCAACTTC1371                           ArgValValLeuGluArgIleAlaArgLysGlyGluGlnCysAsnPhe                               400405410                                                                      GTACCTGATAACATAGATGATATTGTGGCAGACCTAGCACCAGAAGAA1419                           ValProAspAsnIleAspAspIleValAlaAspLeuAlaProGluGlu                               415420425                                                                      AAAGAAGAAGATGATACCCCTGAGACCTGCATATATTCAAACTGGTCC1467                           LysGluGluAspAspThrProGluThrCysIleTyrSerAsnTrpSer                               430435440                                                                      CCCTGGTCAGCCTGCAGCTCCTCTACCTGTGAGAAGGGCAAGAGGATG1515                           ProTrpSerAlaCysSerSerSerThrCysGluLysGlyLysArgMet                               445450455460                                                                   AGGCAGAGAATGCTTAAAGCTCAGCTGGACCTCAGTGTGCCCTGTCCT1563                           ArgGlnArgMetLeuLysAlaGlnLeuAspLeuSerValProCysPro                               465470475                                                                      GATACCCAAGATTTTCAGCCATGCATGGGTCCAGGCTGCAGTGATGAA1611                           AspThrGlnAspPheGlnProCysMetGlyProGlyCysSerAspGlu                               480485490                                                                      GATGGTTCAACTTGCATGATGTCTGACTGGATTACATGGTCCCCCTGT1659                           AspGlySerThrCysMetMetSerAspTrpIleThrTrpSerProCys                               495500505                                                                      AGTGTTTCCTGTGGAATGGGAACGCGATCTAGAGAGAGATATGTAAAG1707                           SerValSerCysGlyMetGlyThrArgSerArgGluArgTyrValLys                               510515520                                                                      CAATTCCCCGAAGATGGCTCTATGTGCAAAGTGCCTACTGAAGAAACT1755                           GlnPheProGluAspGlySerMetCysLysValProThrGluGluThr                               525530535540                                                                   GAGAAATGTATTGTAAATGAGGAATGCTCCCCTAGCAGCTGCCTTGTC1803                           GluLysCysIleValAsnGluGluCysSerProSerSerCysLeuVal                               545550555                                                                      ACCGAATGGGGAGAGTGGGATGAATGCAGTGCTAGCTGTGGCACAGGA1851                           ThrGluTrpGlyGluTrpAspGluCysSerAlaSerCysGlyThrGly                               560565570                                                                      ATGAAAAGGCGACACAGAATGATCAAGATGACTCCTGCTGATGGATCT1899                           MetLysArgArgHisArgMetIleLysMetThrProAlaAspGlySer                               575580585                                                                      ATGTGCAAGGCAGAAACTACAGAGGCAGAGAAATGCATGATGCCCGAA1947                           MetCysLysAlaGluThrThrGluAlaGluLysCysMetMetProGlu                               590595600                                                                      TGCCATACTATTCCCTGCCTTCTATCCCCATGGTCTGAATGGAGCGAC1995                           CysHisThrIleProCysLeuLeuSerProTrpSerGluTrpSerAsp                               605610615620                                                                   TGCAGCGTGACATGTGGGAAGGGAATGCGAACCCGGCAAAGGATGCTG2043                           CysSerValThrCysGlyLysGlyMetArgThrArgGlnArgMetLeu                               625630635                                                                      AAATCTGCAGCTGAGCTTGGAGACTGCAATGAGGAACTGGAGCAAGCA2091                           LysSerAlaAlaGluLeuGlyAspCysAsnGluGluLeuGluGlnAla                               640645650                                                                      GAGAAATGCATGCTACCTGAATGCCCCATTGACTGTGAGCTAACGGAG2139                           GluLysCysMetLeuProGluCysProIleAspCysGluLeuThrGlu                               655660665                                                                      TGGTCCCAGTGGTCCGAGTGCAATACCTCCTGTGGGAAGGGCCACATG2187                           TrpSerGlnTrpSerGluCysAsnThrSerCysGlyLysGlyHisMet                               670675680                                                                      ATCAGAACAAGAATGATCAAAATAGAACCACAGTTTGGAGGAACAGCA2235                           IleArgThrArgMetIleLysIleGluProGlnPheGlyGlyThrAla                               685690695700                                                                   TGCCCAGAAACTGTCCAACGTACTAAATGTCGAGTAAGGAAATGCCTG2283                           CysProGluThrValGlnArgThrLysCysArgValArgLysCysLeu                               705710715                                                                      AGAGGCCCAGGTATGGAAAAGAGGCGTTGGAAGGAGGCCCGGGAGAAA2331                           ArgGlyProGlyMetGluLysArgArgTrpLysGluAlaArgGluLys                               720725730                                                                      AGAAGAAGTGAACAAGCAAAAAAAAATATTGATAATGAGCAATATCCA2379                           ArgArgSerGluGlnAlaLysLysAsnIleAspAsnGluGlnTyrPro                               735740745                                                                      GTTTGTAGGCTGAAACCATGGACTGCTTGGACAGAATGTTCTACACTC2427                           ValCysArgLeuLysProTrpThrAlaTrpThrGluCysSerThrLeu                               750755760                                                                      TGTGGAGGTGGAATTCAGGAGCGCTACATGATGGTAAAGAAGAGGTCC2475                           CysGlyGlyGlyIleGlnGluArgTyrMetMetValLysLysArgSer                               765770775780                                                                   AAAAGCACTCAGTTTACTAGCTGCAAAGACAAAAAGGAGCTAAGAGCA2523                           LysSerThrGlnPheThrSerCysLysAspLysLysGluLeuArgAla                               785790795                                                                      TGTAACGTTCATCCTTGTTAGGAAAACACAAGGCTTCCAAGTGATGCACT2573                         CysAsnValHisProCys                                                             800                                                                            CTGAGCTATAAGGAAAGTCAACCTTGGTTTGGTTTTTAAAACAAACAAAAGTATAAAGTG2633               TATATTAGTTTTCATTTTTGCAGTGTGGTTTGCTTTTAGTCTTGCTGGTGCAAGAAATAT2693               ATTTTATAAATATTTCCTCCGATTAATCTAGGTAAACTTTGATGCTCCAGCTAGCCCTTA2753               CTGCATAAAAATAGTAGGTCATTGTGAGTCATTTAACTGAAGTACAGACATATCTGTGGA2813               CATGGAATAGCCATATAGAAATACTACTTGTAAAGACATGGGATGCATGCATATTAACAT2873               AACTAATTTGAAGTGACATGTTTCATATGTGGGAGGATTTCTCTCTTGATTTGATTTAAA2933               AATCCAAAGCAGTGCCTATGTGATTATACAACTATGCCAAGGAGAAATTTCAGTAATGCT2993               GGTTCAATAATATTAAAGGTGCATGTTTATCTTTTTACAATATTGGGTTAAGCGATAGTT3053               GAAATAATTACCCTACATACTTTTGTTCACATGGATGCTGCGTTCCATGCAAAATCATCT3113               TTGTTTCTCAAATAGCAACTTACTTAAATAATCTGTGCAGCTCAATAGTGATGTCAGCCC3173               ATAACACAGTCACAACACACAAAGACATGTGGCTATCACAGTACCTGTCACTG3226                      (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 802 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                                       MetAlaAlaArgLeuArgProLeuAlaLeuArgLeuLeuAlaArgThr                               151015                                                                         PheProLeuValAlaArgGlyPheSerAspGluThrLeuGluLysAla                               202530                                                                         AlaLysSerGluGlyTyrCysSerArgIleLeuArgAlaGlnGlyThr                               354045                                                                         ArgArgGluGlyTyrAsnGluPheSerLeuArgValGluGlyAspPro                               505560                                                                         GluPheTyrLysProGlyAsnSerTyrArgValThrLeuSerAlaAla                               65707580                                                                       ThrProAlaTyrPheArgGlyPheThrLeuIleAlaLeuLysGluGly                               859095                                                                         LysGluGlyAspLysGluGluAspHisAlaGlyThrPheGlnIleIle                               100105110                                                                      AspGluGluGluThrGlnPheMetSerAsnCysProValAlaValThr                               115120125                                                                      GluSerThrProArgArgArgThrArgIleGlnValPheTrpThrAla                               130135140                                                                      ProProThrGlyThrGlyCysValIleLeuLysAlaSerIleValGln                               145150155160                                                                   LysArgIleIleTyrPheGlnAspGluGlySerLeuThrLysArgIle                               165170175                                                                      CysGluGlnAspSerAlaSerGluGlyValThrAspLysProThrLeu                               180185190                                                                      AspCysCysAlaCysGlyThrAlaLysTyrArgLeuThrPheTyrGly                               195200205                                                                      AsnTrpSerGluLysThrHisProLysAspPheProArgArgThrAsn                               210215220                                                                      HisTrpSerAlaIleIleGlySerSerHisSerLysAsnTyrIleLeu                               225230235240                                                                   TrpGluTyrGlyGlyTyrAlaSerGluGlyValLysGlnValAlaGlu                               245250255                                                                      LeuGlySerProValLysMetGluGluGluIleArgGlnGlnSerAsp                               260265270                                                                      GluValLeuThrValIleLysAlaLysAlaGlnTrpProAlaTrpGln                               275280285                                                                      ProLeuAsnValArgAlaAlaProSerAlaGluPheSerValAspArg                               290295300                                                                      HisArgHisLeuMetSerPheLeuThrMetLeuGlyProSerProAsp                               305310315320                                                                   TrpAsnValGlyLeuSerAlaGluAspLeuCysThrLysAspCysGly                               325330335                                                                      TrpValGlnLysValValGlnAspLeuIleProTrpAspAlaGlyThr                               340345350                                                                      AspSerGlyValThrTyrGluSerProAsnLysProThrValProGln                               355360365                                                                      GluLysIleArgProLeuThrSerLeuAspHisProGlnSerProPhe                               370375380                                                                      TyrAspProGluGlyGlySerIleLysLeuValAlaArgValValLeu                               385390395400                                                                   GluArgIleAlaArgLysGlyGluGlnCysAsnPheValProAspAsn                               405410415                                                                      IleAspAspIleValAlaAspLeuAlaProGluGluLysGluGluAsp                               420425430                                                                      AspThrProGluThrCysIleTyrSerAsnTrpSerProTrpSerAla                               435440445                                                                      CysSerSerSerThrCysGluLysGlyLysArgMetArgGlnArgMet                               450455460                                                                      LeuLysAlaGlnLeuAspLeuSerValProCysProAspThrGlnAsp                               465470475480                                                                   PheGlnProCysMetGlyProGlyCysSerAspGluAspGlySerThr                               485490495                                                                      CysMetMetSerAspTrpIleThrTrpSerProCysSerValSerCys                               500505510                                                                      GlyMetGlyThrArgSerArgGluArgTyrValLysGlnPheProGlu                               515520525                                                                      AspGlySerMetCysLysValProThrGluGluThrGluLysCysIle                               530535540                                                                      ValAsnGluGluCysSerProSerSerCysLeuValThrGluTrpGly                               545550555560                                                                   GluTrpAspGluCysSerAlaSerCysGlyThrGlyMetLysArgArg                               565570575                                                                      HisArgMetIleLysMetThrProAlaAspGlySerMetCysLysAla                               580585590                                                                      GluThrThrGluAlaGluLysCysMetMetProGluCysHisThrIle                               595600605                                                                      ProCysLeuLeuSerProTrpSerGluTrpSerAspCysSerValThr                               610615620                                                                      CysGlyLysGlyMetArgThrArgGlnArgMetLeuLysSerAlaAla                               625630635640                                                                   GluLeuGlyAspCysAsnGluGluLeuGluGlnAlaGluLysCysMet                               645650655                                                                      LeuProGluCysProIleAspCysGluLeuThrGluTrpSerGlnTrp                               660665670                                                                      SerGluCysAsnThrSerCysGlyLysGlyHisMetIleArgThrArg                               675680685                                                                      MetIleLysIleGluProGlnPheGlyGlyThrAlaCysProGluThr                               690695700                                                                      ValGlnArgThrLysCysArgValArgLysCysLeuArgGlyProGly                               705710715720                                                                   MetGluLysArgArgTrpLysGluAlaArgGluLysArgArgSerGlu                               725730735                                                                      GlnAlaLysLysAsnIleAspAsnGluGlnTyrProValCysArgLeu                               740745750                                                                      LysProTrpThrAlaTrpThrGluCysSerThrLeuCysGlyGlyGly                               755760765                                                                      IleGlnGluArgTyrMetMetValLysLysArgSerLysSerThrGln                               770775780                                                                      PheThrSerCysLysAspLysLysGluLeuArgAlaCysAsnValHis                               785790795800                                                                   ProCys                                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1816 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 2..1705                                                          (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                                       TTCAGGTGAATATGTTCTTTGGAGTATGAGACAAGCCAGTGATGGT46                               SerGlyGluTyrValLeuTrpSerMetArgGlnAlaSerAspGly                                  151015                                                                         GTCAAACAAGTAGCTGAGTTGGGTTCTCCAGTCAAAATGGAAGAAGAA94                             ValLysGlnValAlaGluLeuGlySerProValLysMetGluGluGlu                               202530                                                                         ATTCGACAGAAGGGAGATGAAGTTCTAACAGTAATCAAAGCCAAAGCT142                            IleArgGlnLysGlyAspGluValLeuThrValIleLysAlaLysAla                               354045                                                                         CAGTGGCCGGCCTGGCAGCCCCTCAATGTGAGGGCCGCCCCTTCAGCT190                            GlnTrpProAlaTrpGlnProLeuAsnValArgAlaAlaProSerAla                               505560                                                                         GAGTTCTCTGTGGACAGAAGCCGTCACCTGATGTCATTTCTGGCCATG238                            GluPheSerValAspArgSerArgHisLeuMetSerPheLeuAlaMet                               657075                                                                         ATGGGTCCTAGCCCAGACTGGAATGTAGGACTCACCTCCGAGGATCTC286                            MetGlyProSerProAspTrpAsnValGlyLeuThrSerGluAspLeu                               80859095                                                                       TGTACCAAAGAGTGTGGCTGGGTTCAGAAGGTGGTCCAGGATTTGATT334                            CysThrLysGluCysGlyTrpValGlnLysValValGlnAspLeuIle                               100105110                                                                      CCATGGGATGCAGGCACTGACAGTGGGGTAACCTACGAGTCTCCAAAC382                            ProTrpAspAlaGlyThrAspSerGlyValThrTyrGluSerProAsn                               115120125                                                                      AAGCCCACCATTCCCCAGGATAAAATCCGACCTCTGACAAGTCTGGAT430                            LysProThrIleProGlnAspLysIleArgProLeuThrSerLeuAsp                               130135140                                                                      CACCCACAAAGCCCTTCTATGACCAGAGGTGGGCCAATCATACCTATA478                            HisProGlnSerProSerMetThrArgGlyGlyProIleIleProIle                               145150155                                                                      GCTCGAGTTGTGATTGAAAGGATTGCCAGGAAGGGAGAACAGTGCAAT526                            AlaArgValValIleGluArgIleAlaArgLysGlyGluGlnCysAsn                               160165170175                                                                   ATTATACCCGACAACGTGGATGACATAGTAGCAGATCTGGTAACGGAA574                            IleIleProAspAsnValAspAspIleValAlaAspLeuValThrGlu                               180185190                                                                      GAGAAAGACGAAGATGATACCCCGGAGACCTGCATATATTCCAACTGG622                            GluLysAspGluAspAspThrProGluThrCysIleTyrSerAsnTrp                               195200205                                                                      TCCCCCTGGTCGGCCTGCAGCTCGGCCACCTGCGACAAGGGCAAGCGG670                            SerProTrpSerAlaCysSerSerAlaThrCysAspLysGlyLysArg                               210215220                                                                      ATGAGACAGCGCATGTTAAAGGCTCAGTTAGATCTCAGTGTTCCCTGC718                            MetArgGlnArgMetLeuLysAlaGlnLeuAspLeuSerValProCys                               225230235                                                                      CCAGACACTCAGGACTTTGAACCCTGCATGGGGCCCGGCTGCAGCGAT766                            ProAspThrGlnAspPheGluProCysMetGlyProGlyCysSerAsp                               240245250255                                                                   GACGAAGCCTCTACCTGCATGATGTCAGAATGGATCACCTGGTCGCCG814                            AspGluAlaSerThrCysMetMetSerGluTrpIleThrTrpSerPro                               260265270                                                                      TGCAGCGCCTCCTGCGGGATGGGAATTGAGGTCAGGGAGAGATACGTC862                            CysSerAlaSerCysGlyMetGlyIleGluValArgGluArgTyrVal                               275280285                                                                      AAGCAGTTCCCAGAAGACGGTTCCTTGTGTAAAGTCCCAACGGAAGAA910                            LysGlnPheProGluAspGlySerLeuCysLysValProThrGluGlu                               290295300                                                                      ACTGAGAAATGCATTGTCAATGAGGAGTGTGAGCCAAGCAGCTGTATA958                            ThrGluLysCysIleValAsnGluGluCysGluProSerSerCysIle                               305310315                                                                      GTCACGGAATGGGCAGAGTGGGAGGAGTGCAGCGCTACATGCCGGATG1006                           ValThrGluTrpAlaGluTrpGluGluCysSerAlaThrCysArgMet                               320325330335                                                                   GGTATGAAGAAGCGGCACAGGATGATAAAGATGACTCCAGCGGATGGA1054                           GlyMetLysLysArgHisArgMetIleLysMetThrProAlaAspGly                               340345350                                                                      TCTATGTGCAAAGCCGACACAACAGAGGTTGAGAAATGCATGATGCCC1102                           SerMetCysLysAlaAspThrThrGluValGluLysCysMetMetPro                               355360365                                                                      GAATGTCATACCATCCCGTGCGTGTTGTCCCCTTGGTCTGAATGGAGT1150                           GluCysHisThrIleProCysValLeuSerProTrpSerGluTrpSer                               370375380                                                                      GATTGCAGCGTTACCTGTGGCAAAGGCACCAGAACCAGACAGAGAATG1198                           AspCysSerValThrCysGlyLysGlyThrArgThrArgGlnArgMet                               385390395                                                                      TTGAAGTCCCCGTCTGAACTTGGAGATTGCAATGAGGAACTGGAACTG1246                           LeuLysSerProSerGluLeuGlyAspCysAsnGluGluLeuGluLeu                               400405410415                                                                   AAACAAGTGGAAAAGTGCATGCTTCCTGAATGCCCTATAAGCTGTGAA1294                           LysGlnValGluLysCysMetLeuProGluCysProIleSerCysGlu                               420425430                                                                      TTGACAGAGTGGTCTTACTGGTCTGAGTGTAACAAATGCTCGGGCAAG1342                           LeuThrGluTrpSerTyrTrpSerGluCysAsnLysCysSerGlyLys                               435440445                                                                      GGTCACATGATTCGTACCCGAATGATCACAATGGAACCACAGTTTGGA1390                           GlyHisMetIleArgThrArgMetIleThrMetGluProGlnPheGly                               450455460                                                                      GGAGCCGTCTGTCCGGAAACCGTGCAACGCAAAAAATGCCGATTACGT1438                           GlyAlaValCysProGluThrValGlnArgLysLysCysArgLeuArg                               465470475                                                                      AAATGTCAAAAAAGTTCCGGGAATGAGCGAAGGCATTTAAAGGATGCC1486                           LysCysGlnLysSerSerGlyAsnGluArgArgHisLeuLysAspAla                               480485490495                                                                   CGAGAGAAGAGAAGGAGTGAAAAAATAAAGGAAGATTCAGATGGAGAA1534                           ArgGluLysArgArgSerGluLysIleLysGluAspSerAspGlyGlu                               500505510                                                                      CAGTACCCTGTATGTAAAATGAAACCATGGACTGCATGGACGGAATGT1582                           GlnTyrProValCysLysMetLysProTrpThrAlaTrpThrGluCys                               515520525                                                                      ACCAAATTCTGCGGTGGCGGGATACAAGAGCGGTTCATGACTGTGAAG1630                           ThrLysPheCysGlyGlyGlyIleGlnGluArgPheMetThrValLys                               530535540                                                                      AAGAGATTCAAAAGTTCTCAGTTCACCAGCTGCAAGGACAAGAAGGAG1678                           LysArgPheLysSerSerGlnPheThrSerCysLysAspLysLysGlu                               545550555                                                                      ATCCGGGCTTGCAATGTCCATCCATGTTAACCTGCCTGAAAAGAGGG1725                            IleArgAlaCysAsnValHisProCys                                                    560565                                                                         ATTGACACTACAATCGCAACAGAAGTCAATCTTTATTAGATATTTTTTATCATAGAATAT1785               ATACATGTGCTTTCATTTTGCATGTACTTTT1816                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 559 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                                       MetAsnHisLeuGlyAsnValLysTyrLeuValIleValPheLeuIle                               151015                                                                         PhePheAspLeuPheLeuValAsnGlyArgAspValGlnAsnAsnIle                               202530                                                                         ValAspGluIleLysTyrSerGluGluValCysAsnAspGlnValAsp                               354045                                                                         LeuTyrLeuLeuMetAspCysSerGlySerIleArgArgHisAsnTrp                               505560                                                                         ValAsnHisAlaValProLeuAlaMetLysLeuIleGlnGlnLeuAsn                               65707580                                                                       LeuAsnAspAsnAlaIleHisLeuTyrValAsnValPheSerAsnAsn                               859095                                                                         AlaLysGluIleIleArgLeuHisSerAspAlaSerLysAsnLysGlu                               100105110                                                                      LysAlaLeuIleIleIleArgSerLeuLeuSerThrAsnLeuProTyr                               115120125                                                                      GlyArgThrAsnLeuThrAspAlaLeuLeuGlnValArgLysHisLeu                               130135140                                                                      AsnAspArgIleAsnArgGluAsnAlaAsnGlnLeuValValIleLeu                               145150155160                                                                   ThrAspGlyIleProAspSerIleGlnAspSerLeuLysGluSerArg                               165170175                                                                      LysLeuSerAspArgGlyValLysIleAlaValPheGlyIleGlyGln                               180185190                                                                      GlyIleAsnValAlaPheAsnArgPheLeuValGlyCysHisProSer                               195200205                                                                      AspGlyLysCysAsnLeuTyrAlaAspSerAlaTrpGluAsnValLys                               210215220                                                                      AsnValIleGlyProPheMetLysAlaValCysValGluValGluLys                               225230235240                                                                   ThrAlaSerCysGlyValTrpAspGluTrpSerProCysSerValThr                               245250255                                                                      CysGlyLysGlyThrArgSerArgLysArgGluIleLeuHisGluGly                               260265270                                                                      CysThrSerGluIleGlnGluGlnCysGluGluGluArgCysProPro                               275280285                                                                      LysTrpGluProLeuAspValProAspGluProGluAspAspGlnPro                               290295300                                                                      ArgProArgGlyAspAsnSerSerValGlnLysProGluGluAsnIle                               305310315320                                                                   IleAspAsnAsnProGlnGluProSerProAsnProGluGluGlyLys                               325330335                                                                      AspGluAsnProAsnGlyPheAspLeuAspGluAsnProGluAsnPro                               340345350                                                                      ProAsnProAspIleProGluGlnLysProAsnIleProGluAspSer                               355360365                                                                      GluLysGluValProSerAspValProLysAsnProGluAspAspArg                               370375380                                                                      GluGluAsnPheAspIleProLysLysProGluAsnLysHisAspAsn                               385390395400                                                                   GlnAsnAsnLeuProAsnAspLysSerAspArgAsnIleProTyrSer                               405410415                                                                      ProLeuProProLysValLeuAspAsnGluArgLysGlnSerAspPro                               420425430                                                                      GlnSerGlnAspAsnAsnGlyAsnArgHisValProAsnSerGluAsp                               435440445                                                                      ArgGluThrArgProHisGlyArgAsnAsnGluAsnArgSerTyrAsn                               450455460                                                                      ArgLysTyrAsnAspThrProLysHisProGluArgGluGluHisGlu                               465470475480                                                                   LysProAspAsnAsnLysLysLysGlyGluSerAspAsnLysTyrLys                               485490495                                                                      IleAlaGlyGlyIleAlaGlyGlyLeuAlaLeuLeuAlaCysAlaGly                               500505510                                                                      LeuAlaTyrLysPheValValProGlyAlaAlaThrProTyrAlaGly                               515520525                                                                      GluProAlaProPheAspGluThrLeuGlyGluGluAspLysAspLeu                               530535540                                                                      AspGluProGluGlnPheArgLeuProGluGluAsnGluTrpAsn                                  545550555                                                                      (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 469 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                                       MetIleThrGluGlyAlaGlnAlaProArgLeuLeuLeuProProLeu                               151015                                                                         LeuLeuLeuLeuThrLeuProAlaThrGlySerAspProValLeuCys                               202530                                                                         PheThrGlnTyrGluGluSerSerGlyLysCysLysGlyLeuLeuGly                               354045                                                                         GlyGlyValSerValGluAspCysCysLeuAsnThrAlaPheAlaTyr                               505560                                                                         GlnLysArgSerGlyGlyLeuCysGlnProCysArgSerProArgTrp                               65707580                                                                       SerLeuTrpSerThrTrpAlaProCysSerValThrCysSerGluGly                               859095                                                                         SerGlnLeuArgTyrArgArgCysValGlyTrpAsnGlyGlnCysSer                               100105110                                                                      GlyLysValAlaProGlyThrLeuGluTrpGlnLeuGlnAlaCysGlu                               115120125                                                                      AspGlnGlnCysCysProGluMetGlyGlyTrpSerGlyTrpGlyPro                               130135140                                                                      TrpGluProCysSerValThrCysSerLysGlyThrArgThrArgArg                               145150155160                                                                   ArgAlaCysAsnHisProAlaProLysCysGlyGlyHisCysProGly                               165170175                                                                      GlnAlaGlnGluSerGluAlaCysAspThrGlnGlnValCysProThr                               180185190                                                                      HisGlyAlaTrpAlaThrTrpGlyProTrpThrProCysSerAlaSer                               195200205                                                                      CysHisGlyGlyProHisGluProLysGluThrArgSerArgLysCys                               210215220                                                                      SerAlaProGluProSerGlnLysProProGlyLysProCysProGly                               225230235240                                                                   LeuAlaTyrGluGlnArgArgCysThrGlyLeuProProCysProVal                               245250255                                                                      AlaGlyGlyTrpGlyProTrpGlyProValSerProCysProValThr                               260265270                                                                      CysGlyLeuGlyGlnThrMetGluGlnArgThrCysAsnHisProVal                               275280285                                                                      ProGlnHisGlyGlyProPheCysAlaGlyAspAlaThrArgThrHis                               290295300                                                                      IleCysAsnThrAlaValProCysProValAspGlyGluTrpAspSer                               305310315320                                                                   TrpGlyGluTrpSerProCysIleArgArgAsnMetLysSerIleSer                               325330335                                                                      CysGlnGluIleProGlyGlnGlnSerArgGlyArgThrCysArgGly                               340345350                                                                      ProLysPheAspGlyHisArgCysAlaGlyGlnGlnGlnAspIleArg                               355360365                                                                      HisCysTyrSerIleGlnHisCysProLeuLysGlySerTrpSerGlu                               370375380                                                                      TrpSerThrTrpGlyLeuCysMetProProCysGlyProAsnProThr                               385390395400                                                                   ArgAlaArgGlnArgLeuCysThrProLeuLeuProLysTyrProPro                               405410415                                                                      ThrValSerMetValGluGlyGlnGlyGluLysAsnValThrPheTrp                               420425430                                                                      GlyArgProLeuProArgCysGluGluLeuGlnGlyGlnLysLeuVal                               435440445                                                                      ValGluGluLysArgProCysLeuHisValProAlaCysLysAspPro                               450455460                                                                      GluGluGluGluLeu                                                                465                                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 557 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                                       SerAlaCysArgSerPheAlaValAlaIleCysXaaLeuGluIleXaa                               151015                                                                         IleLeuThrAlaGlnTyrThrThrSerTyrAspProGluLeuThrGlu                               202530                                                                         SerSerGlySerAlaSerHisIleAspArgArgMetSerProTrpSer                               354045                                                                         GluTrpSerGlnCysAspProCysLeuArgGlnMetPheArgSerArg                               505560                                                                         SerIleGluValPheGlyGlnPheAsnGlyLysArgCysThrAspAla                               65707580                                                                       ValGlyAspArgArgGlnCysValProThrGluProCysGluAspAla                               859095                                                                         GluAspAspCysGlyAsnAspPheGlnCysSerThrGlyArgCysIle                               100105110                                                                      LysMetArgLeuArgCysAsnGlyAspAsnAspCysGlyAspPheSer                               115120125                                                                      AspGluAspAspCysGluSerGluProArgProProCysArgAspArg                               130135140                                                                      ValValGluGluSerGluLeuAlaArgThrAlaGlyTyrGlyIleAsn                               145150155160                                                                   IleLeuGlyMetAspProLeuSerThrProPheAspAsnGluPheTyr                               165170175                                                                      AsnGlyLeuCysAsnArgAspArgAspGlyAsnThrLeuThrTyrTyr                               180185190                                                                      ArgArgProTrpAsnValAlaSerLeuIleTyrGluThrLysGlyGlu                               195200205                                                                      LysAsnPheArgThrGluHisTyrGluGluGlnIleGluAlaPheLys                               210215220                                                                      SerIleIleGlnGluLysThrSerAsnPheAsnAlaAlaIleSerLeu                               225230235240                                                                   LysPheThrProThrGluThrAsnLysAlaGluGlnCysCysGluGlu                               245250255                                                                      ThrAlaSerSerIleSerLeuHisGlyLysGlySerPheArgPheSer                               260265270                                                                      TyrSerLysAsnGluThrTyrGlnLeuPheLeuSerTyrSerSerLys                               275280285                                                                      LysGluLysMetPheLeuHisValLysGlyGluIleHisLeuGlyArg                               290295300                                                                      PheValMetArgAsnArgAspValLeuThrThrThrPheValAspAsp                               305310315320                                                                   IleLysAlaLeuProThrThrTyrGluLysGlyGluTyrPheAlaPhe                               325330335                                                                      LeuGluThrTyrGlyThrHisTyrSerSerSerGlySerLeuGlyGly                               340345350                                                                      LeuTyrGluLeuIleTyrValLeuAspLysAlaSerMetLysArgLys                               355360365                                                                      GlyValGluLeuLysAspIleLysArgCysLeuGlyTyrHisLeuAsp                               370375380                                                                      ValSerLeuAlaPheSerGluIleSerValGlyAlaGluPheAsnLys                               385390395400                                                                   AspAspCysValLysArgGlyGluGlyArgAlaValAsnIleProSer                               405410415                                                                      GluAsnLeuIleAspAspValValSerLeuIleArgGlyGlyThrArg                               420425430                                                                      LysTyrAlaPheGluLeuLysGluLysLeuLeuArgGlyThrValIle                               435440445                                                                      AspValThrAspPheValAsnTrpAlaSerSerIleAsnAspAlaPro                               450455460                                                                      ValLeuIleSerGlnLysLeuSerProIleTyrAsnLeuValProVal                               465470475480                                                                   LysMetLysAsnAlaHisLeuLysLysGlnAsnLeuGluArgAlaIle                               485490495                                                                      GluAspTyrIleAsnGluPheSerValArgLysCysHisThrCysGln                               500505510                                                                      AsnGlyGlyThrValIleLeuMetAspGlyLysCysLeuCysAlaCys                               515520525                                                                      ProPheLysPheGluGlyIleAlaCysGluIleSerLysGlnLysIle                               530535540                                                                      SerGluGlyLeuProAlaLeuGluPheProAsnGluLys                                        545550555                                                                      (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 584 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                                       MetPheAlaValValPhePheIleLeuSerLeuMetThrCysGlnPro                               151015                                                                         GlyValThrAlaGlnGluLysValAsnGlnArgValArgArgAlaAla                               202530                                                                         ThrProAlaAlaValThrCysGlnLeuSerAsnTrpSerGluTrpThr                               354045                                                                         AspCysPheProCysGlnAspLysLysTyrArgHisArgSerLeuLeu                               505560                                                                         GlnProAsnLysPheGlyGlyThrIleCysSerGlyAspIleTrpAsp                               65707580                                                                       GlnAlaSerCysSerSerSerThrThrCysValArgGlnAlaGlnCys                               859095                                                                         GlyGlnAspPheGlnCysLysGluThrGlyArgCysLeuLysArgHis                               100105110                                                                      LeuValCysAsnGlyAspGlnAspCysLeuAspGlySerAspGluAsp                               115120125                                                                      AspCysGluAspValArgAlaIleAspGluAspCysSerGlnTyrGlu                               130135140                                                                      ProIleProGlySerGlnLysAlaAlaLeuGlyTyrAsnIleLeuThr                               145150155160                                                                   GlnGluAspAlaGlnSerValTyrAspAlaSerTyrTyrGlyGlyGln                               165170175                                                                      CysGluThrValTyrAsnGlyGluTrpArgGluLeuArgTyrAspSer                               180185190                                                                      ThrCysGluArgLeuTyrTyrGlyAspAspGluLysTyrPheArgLys                               195200205                                                                      ProTyrAsnPheLeuLysTyrHisPheGluAlaLeuAlaAspThrGly                               210215220                                                                      IleSerSerGluPheTyrAspAsnAlaAsnAspLeuLeuSerLysVal                               225230235240                                                                   LysLysAspLysSerAspSerPheGlyValThrIleGlyIleGlyPro                               245250255                                                                      AlaGlySerProLeuLeuValGlyValGlyValSerHisSerGlnAsp                               260265270                                                                      ThrSerPheLeuAsnGluLeuAsnLysTyrAsnGluLysLysPheIle                               275280285                                                                      PheThrArgIlePheThrLysValGlnThrAlaHisPheLysMetArg                               290295300                                                                      LysAspAspIleMetLeuAspGluGlyMetLeuGlnSerLeuMetGlu                               305310315320                                                                   LeuProAspGlnTyrAsnTyrGlyMetTyrAlaLysPheIleAsnAsp                               325330335                                                                      TyrGlyThrHisTyrIleThrSerGlySerMetGlyGlyIleTyrGlu                               340345350                                                                      TyrIleLeuValIleAspLysAlaLysMetGluSerLeuGlyIleThr                               355360365                                                                      SerArgAspIleThrThrCysPheGlyGlySerLeuGlyIleGlnTyr                               370375380                                                                      GluAspLysIleAsnValGlyGlyGlyLeuSerGlyAspHisCysLys                               385390395400                                                                   LysPheGlyGlyGlyLysThrGluArgAlaArgLysAlaMetAlaVal                               405410415                                                                      GluAspIleIleSerArgValArgGlyGlySerSerGlyTrpSerGly                               420425430                                                                      GlyLeuAlaGlnAsnArgSerThrIleThrTyrArgSerTrpGlyArg                               435440445                                                                      SerLeuLysTyrAsnProValValIleAspPheGluMetGlnProIle                               450455460                                                                      HisGluValLeuArgHisThrSerLeuGlyProLeuGluAlaLysArg                               465470475480                                                                   GlnAsnLeuArgArgAlaLeuAspGlnTyrLeuMetGluPheAsnAla                               485490495                                                                      CysArgCysGlyProCysPheAsnAsnGlyValProIleLeuGluGly                               500505510                                                                      ThrSerCysArgCysGlnCysArgLeuGlySerLeuGlyAlaAlaCys                               515520525                                                                      GluGlnThrGlnThrGluGlyAlaLysAlaAspGlySerTrpSerCys                               530535540                                                                      TrpSerSerTrpSerValCysArgAlaGlyIleGlnGluArgArgArg                               545550555560                                                                   GluCysAspAsnProAlaProGlnAsnGlyGlyAlaSerCysProGly                               565570575                                                                      ArgLysValGlnThrGlnAlaCys                                                       580                                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 412 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:                                       MetMetArgLysLeuAlaIleLeuSerValSerSerPheLeuPheVal                               151015                                                                         GluAlaLeuPheGlnGluTyrGlnCysTyrGlySerSerSerAsnThr                               202530                                                                         ArgValLeuAsnGluLeuAsnTyrAspAsnAlaGlyThrAsnLeuTyr                               354045                                                                         AsnGluLeuGluMetAsnTyrTyrGlyLysGlnGluAsnTrpTyrSer                               505560                                                                         LeuLysLysAsnSerArgSerLeuGlyGluAsnAspAspGlyAsnAsn                               65707580                                                                       AsnAsnGlyAspAsnGlyArgGluGlyLysAspGluAspLysArgAsp                               859095                                                                         GlyAsnAsnGluAspAsnGluLysLeuArgLysProLysHisLysLys                               100105110                                                                      LeuLysGlnProGlyAspGlyAsnProAspProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               115120125                                                                      ValAspProAsnAlaAsnProAsnValAspProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               130135140                                                                      ValAspProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               145150155160                                                                   AlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               165170175                                                                      AlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               180185190                                                                      AlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               195200205                                                                      ValAspProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               210215220                                                                      AlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               225230235240                                                                   AlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               245250255                                                                      AlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               260265270                                                                      AlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsnAlaAsnProAsn                               275280285                                                                      LysAsnAsnGlnGlyAsnGlyGlnGlyHisAsnMetProAsnAspPro                               290295300                                                                      AsnArgAsnValAspGluAsnAlaAsnAlaAsnAsnAlaValLysAsn                               305310315320                                                                   AsnAsnAsnGluGluProSerAspLysHisIleGluGlnTyrLeuLys                               325330335                                                                      LysIleLysAsnSerIleSerThrGluTrpSerProCysSerValThr                               340345350                                                                      CysGlyAsnGlyIleGlnValArgIleLysProGlySerAlaAsnLys                               355360365                                                                      ProLysAspGluLeuAspTyrGluAsnAspIleGluLysLysIleCys                               370375380                                                                      LysMetGluLysCysSerSerValPheAsnValValAsnSerSerIle                               385390395400                                                                   GlyLeuIleMetValLeuSerPheLeuPheLeuAsn                                           405410                                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1172 amino acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:                                       MetValTrpArgLeuValLeuLeuAlaLeuTrpValTrpProSerThr                               151015                                                                         GlnAlaGlyHisGlnAspLysAspThrThrPheAspLeuPheSerIle                               202530                                                                         SerAsnIleAsnArgLysThrIleGlyAlaLysGlnPheArgGlyPro                               354045                                                                         AspProGlyValProAlaTyrArgPheValArgPheAspTyrIlePro                               505560                                                                         ProValAsnAlaAspAspLeuSerLysIleThrLysIleMetArgGln                               65707580                                                                       LysGluGlyPhePheLeuThrAlaGlnLeuLysGlnAspGlyLysSer                               859095                                                                         ArgGlyThrLeuLeuAlaLeuGluGlyProGlyLeuSerGlnArgGln                               100105110                                                                      PheGluIleValSerAsnGlyProAlaAspThrLeuAspLeuThrTyr                               115120125                                                                      TrpIleAspGlyThrArgHisValValSerLeuGluAspValGlyLeu                               130135140                                                                      AlaAspSerGlnTrpLysAsnValThrValGlnValAlaGlyGluThr                               145150155160                                                                   TyrSerLeuHisValGlyCysAspLeuIleGlyProValAlaLeuAsp                               165170175                                                                      GluProPheTyrGluHisLeuGlnAlaGluLysSerArgMetTyrVal                               180185190                                                                      AlaLysGlySerAlaArgGluSerHisPheArgGlyLeuLeuGlnAsn                               195200205                                                                      ValHisLeuValPheGluAsnSerValGluAspIleLeuSerLysLys                               210215220                                                                      GlyCysGlnGlnGlyGlnGlyAlaGluIleAsnAlaIleSerGluAsn                               225230235240                                                                   ThrGluThrLeuArgLeuGlyProHisValThrThrGluTyrValGly                               245250255                                                                      ProSerSerGluArgArgProGluValCysGluArgSerCysGluGlu                               260265270                                                                      LeuGlyAsnMetValGlnGluLeuSerGlyLeuHisValLeuValAsn                               275280285                                                                      GlnLeuSerGluAsnLeuLysArgValSerAsnAspAsnGlnPheLeu                               290295300                                                                      TrpGluLeuIleGlyGlyProProLysThrArgAsnMetSerAlaCys                               305310315320                                                                   TrpGlnAspGlyArgPhePheAlaGluAsnGluThrTrpValValAsp                               325330335                                                                      SerCysThrThrCysThrCysLysLysPheLysThrIleCysHisGln                               340345350                                                                      IleThrCysProProAlaThrCysAlaSerProSerPheValGluGly                               355360365                                                                      GluCysCysProSerCysLeuHisSerValAspGlyGluGluGlyTrp                               370375380                                                                      SerProTrpAlaGluTrpThrGlnCysSerValThrCysGlySerGly                               385390395400                                                                   ThrGlnGlnArgGlyArgSerCysAspValThrSerAsnThrCysLeu                               405410415                                                                      GlyProSerIleGlnThrArgAlaCysSerLeuSerLysCysAspThr                               420425430                                                                      ArgIleArgGlnAspGlyGlyTrpSerHisTrpSerProTrpSerSer                               435440445                                                                      CysSerValThrCysGlyValGlyAsnIleThrArgIleArgLeuCys                               450455460                                                                      AsnSerProValProGlnMetGlyGlyLysAsnCysLysGlySerGly                               465470475480                                                                   ArgGluThrLysAlaCysGlnGlyAlaProCysProIleAspGlyArg                               485490495                                                                      TrpSerProTrpSerProTrpSerAlaCysThrValThrCysAlaGly                               500505510                                                                      GlyIleArgGluArgThrArgValCysAsnSerProGluProGlnTyr                               515520525                                                                      GlyGlyLysAlaCysValGlyAspValGlnGluArgGlnMetCysAsn                               530535540                                                                      LysArgSerCysProValAspGlyCysLeuSerAsnProCysPhePro                               545550555560                                                                   GlyAlaGlnCysSerSerPheProAspGlySerTrpSerCysGlyPhe                               565570575                                                                      CysProValGlyPheLeuGlyAsnGlyThrHisCysGluAspLeuAsp                               580585590                                                                      GluCysAlaLeuValProAspIleCysPheSerThrSerLysValPro                               595600605                                                                      ArgCysValAsnThrGlnProGlyPheHisCysLeuProCysProPro                               610615620                                                                      ArgTyrArgGlyAsnGlnProValGlyValGlyLeuGluAlaAlaLys                               625630635640                                                                   ThrGluLysGlnValCysGluProGluAsnProCysLysAspLysThr                               645650655                                                                      HisAsnCysHisLysHisAlaGluCysIleTyrLeuGlyHisPheSer                               660665670                                                                      AspProMetTyrLysCysGluCysGlnThrGlyTyrAlaGlyAspGly                               675680685                                                                      LeuIleCysGlyGluAspSerAspLeuAspGlyTrpProAsnLeuAsn                               690695700                                                                      LeuValCysAlaThrAsnAlaThrTyrHisCysIleLysAspAsnCys                               705710715720                                                                   ProHisLeuProAsnSerGlyGlnGluAspPheAspLysAspGlyIle                               725730735                                                                      GlyAspAlaCysAspAspAspAspAspAsnAspGlyValThrAspGlu                               740745750                                                                      LysAspAsnCysGlnLeuLeuPheAsnProArgGlnAlaAspTyrAsp                               755760765                                                                      LysAspGluValGlyAspArgCysAspAsnCysProTyrValHisAsn                               770775780                                                                      ProAlaGlnIleAspThrAspAsnAsnGlyGluGlyAspAlaCysSer                               785790795800                                                                   ValAspIleAspGlyAspAspValPheAsnGluArgAspAsnCysPro                               805810815                                                                      TyrValTyrAsnThrAspGlnArgAspThrAspGlyAspGlyValGly                               820825830                                                                      AspHisCysAspAsnCysProLeuValHisAsnProAspGlnThrAsp                               835840845                                                                      ValAspAsnAspLeuValGlyAspGlnCysAspAsnAsnGluAspIle                               850855860                                                                      AspAspAspGlyHisGlnAsnAsnGlnAspAsnCysProTyrIleSer                               865870875880                                                                   AsnAlaAsnGlnAlaAspHisAspArgAspGlyGlnGlyAspAlaCys                               885890895                                                                      AspProAspAspAspAsnAspGlyValProAspAspArgAspAsnCys                               900905910                                                                      ArgLeuValPheAsnProAspGlnGluAspLeuAspGlyAspGlyArg                               915920925                                                                      GlyAspIleCysLysAspAspPheAspAsnAspAsnIleProAspIle                               930935940                                                                      AspAspValCysProGluAsnAsnAlaIleSerGluThrAspPheArg                               945950955960                                                                   AsnPheGlnMetValProLeuAspProLysGlyThrThrGlnIleAsp                               965970975                                                                      ProAsnTrpValIleArgHisGlnGlyLysGluLeuValGlnThrAla                               980985990                                                                      AsnSerAspProGlyIleAlaValGlyPheAspGluPheGlySerVal                               99510001005                                                                    AspPheSerGlyThrPheTyrValAsnThrAspArgAspAspAspTyr                               101010151020                                                                   AlaGlyPheValPheGlyTyrGlnSerSerSerArgPheTyrValVal                               1025103010351040                                                               MetTrpLysGlnValThrGlnThrTyrTrpGluAspGlnProThrArg                               104510501055                                                                   AlaTyrGlyTyrSerGlyValSerLeuLysValValAsnSerThrThr                               106010651070                                                                   GlyThrGlyGluHisLeuArgAsnAlaLeuTrpHisThrGlyAsnThr                               107510801085                                                                   ProGlyGlnValArgThrLeuTrpHisAspProArgAsnIleGlyTrp                               109010951100                                                                   LysAspTyrThrAlaTyrArgTrpHisLeuThrHisArgProLysThr                               1105111011151120                                                               GlyTyrIleArgValLeuValHisGluGlyLysGlnValMetAlaAsp                               112511301135                                                                   SerGlyProIleTyrAspGlnThrTyrAlaGlyGlyArgLeuGlyLeu                               114011451150                                                                   PheValPheSerGlnGluMetValTyrPheSerAspLeuLysTyrGlu                               115511601165                                                                   CysArgAspIle                                                                   1170                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1170 amino acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:                                       MetGlyLeuAlaTrpGlyLeuGlyValLeuPheLeuMetHisValCys                               151015                                                                         GlyThrAsnArgIleProGluSerGlyGlyAspAsnSerValPheAsp                               202530                                                                         IlePheGluLeuThrGlyAlaAlaArgLysGlySerGlyArgArgLeu                               354045                                                                         ValLysGlyProAspProSerSerProAlaPheArgIleGluAspAla                               505560                                                                         AsnLeuIleProProValProAspAspLysPheGlnAspLeuValAsp                               65707580                                                                       AlaValArgThrGluLysGlyPheLeuLeuLeuAlaSerLeuArgGln                               859095                                                                         MetLysLysThrArgGlyThrLeuLeuAlaLeuGluArgLysAspHis                               100105110                                                                      SerGlyGlnValPheSerValValSerAsnGlyLysAlaGlyThrLeu                               115120125                                                                      AspLeuSerLeuThrValGlnGlyLysGlnHisValValSerValGlu                               130135140                                                                      GluAlaLeuLeuAlaThrGlyGlnTrpLysSerIleThrLeuPheVal                               145150155160                                                                   GlnGluAspArgAlaGlnLeuTyrIleAspCysGluLysMetGluAsn                               165170175                                                                      AlaGluLeuAspValProIleGlnSerValPheThrArgAspLeuAla                               180185190                                                                      SerIleAlaArgLeuArgIleAlaLysGlyGlyValAsnAspAsnPhe                               195200205                                                                      GlnGlyValLeuGlnAsnValArgPheValPheGlyThrThrProGlu                               210215220                                                                      AspIleLeuArgAsnLysGlyCysSerSerSerThrSerValLeuLeu                               225230235240                                                                   ThrLeuAspAsnAsnValValAsnGlySerSerProAlaIleArgThr                               245250255                                                                      AsnTyrIleGlyHisLysThrLysAspLeuGlnAlaIleCysGlyIle                               260265270                                                                      SerCysAspGluLeuSerSerMetValLeuGluLeuArgGlyLeuArg                               275280285                                                                      ThrIleValThrThrLeuGlnAspSerIleArgLysValThrGluGlu                               290295300                                                                      AsnLysGluLeuAlaAsnGluLeuArgArgProProLeuCysTyrHis                               305310315320                                                                   AsnGlyValGlnTyrArgAsnAsnGluGluTrpThrValAspSerCys                               325330335                                                                      ThrGluCysHisCysGlnAsnSerValThrIleCysLysLysValSer                               340345350                                                                      CysProIleMetProCysSerAsnAlaThrValProAspGlyGluCys                               355360365                                                                      CysProArgCysTrpProSerAspSerAlaAspAspGlyTrpSerPro                               370375380                                                                      TrpSerGluTrpThrSerCysSerThrSerCysGlyAsnGlyIleGln                               385390395400                                                                   GlnArgGlyArgSerCysAspSerLeuAsnAsnArgCysGluGlySer                               405410415                                                                      SerValGlnThrArgThrCysHisIleGlnGluCysAspLysArgPhe                               420425430                                                                      LysGlnAspGlyGlyTrpSerHisTrpSerProTrpSerSerCysSer                               435440445                                                                      ValThrCysGlyAspGlyValIleThrArgIleArgLeuCysAsnSer                               450455460                                                                      ProSerProGlnMetAsnGlyLysProCysGluGlyGluAlaArgGlu                               465470475480                                                                   ThrLysAlaCysLysLysAspAlaCysProIleAsnGlyGlyTrpGly                               485490495                                                                      ProTrpSerProTrpAspIleCysSerValThrCysGlyGlyGlyVal                               500505510                                                                      GlnLysArgSerArgLeuCysAsnAsnProThrProGlnPheGlyGly                               515520525                                                                      LysAspCysValGlyAspValThrGluAsnGlnIleCysAsnLysGln                               530535540                                                                      AspCysProIleAspGlyCysLeuSerAsnProCysPheAlaGlyVal                               545550555560                                                                   LysCysThrSerTyrProAspGlySerTrpLysCysGlyAlaCysPro                               565570575                                                                      ProGlyTyrSerGlyAsnGlyIleGlnCysThrAspValAspGluCys                               580585590                                                                      LysGluValProAspAlaCysPheAsnHisAsnGlyGluHisArgCys                               595600605                                                                      GluAsnThrAspProGlyTyrAsnCysLeuProCysProProArgPhe                               610615620                                                                      ThrGlySerGlnProPheGlyGlnGlyValGluHisAlaThrAlaAsn                               625630635640                                                                   LysGlnValCysLysProArgAsnProCysThrAspGlyThrHisAsp                               645650655                                                                      CysAsnLysAsnAlaLysCysAsnTyrLeuGlyHisTyrSerAspPro                               660665670                                                                      MetTyrArgCysGluCysLysProGlyTyrAlaGlyAsnGlyIleIle                               675680685                                                                      CysGlyGluAspThrAspLeuAspGlyTrpProAsnGluAsnLeuVal                               690695700                                                                      CysValAlaAsnAlaThrTyrHisCysLysLysAspAsnCysProAsn                               705710715720                                                                   LeuProAsnSerGlyGlnGluAspTyrAspLysAspGlyIleGlyAsp                               725730735                                                                      AlaCysAspAspAspAspAspAsnAspLysIleProAspAspArgAsp                               740745750                                                                      AsnCysProPheHisTyrAsnProAlaGlnTyrAspTyrAspArgAsp                               755760765                                                                      AspValGlyAspArgCysAspAsnCysProTyrAsnHisAsnProAsp                               770775780                                                                      GlnAlaAspThrAspAsnAsnGlyGluGlyAspAlaCysAlaAlaAsp                               785790795800                                                                   IleAspGlyAspGlyIleLeuAsnGluArgAspAsnCysGlnTyrVal                               805810815                                                                      TyrAsnValAspGlnArgAspThrAspMetAspGlyValGlyAspGln                               820825830                                                                      CysAspAsnCysProLeuGluHisAsnProAspGlnLeuAspSerAsp                               835840845                                                                      SerAspArgIleGlyAspThrCysAspAsnAsnGlnAspIleAspGlu                               850855860                                                                      AspGlyHisGlnAsnAsnLeuAspAsnCysProTyrValProAsnAla                               865870875880                                                                   AsnGlnAlaAspHisAspLysAspGlyLysGlyAspAlaCysAspHis                               885890895                                                                      AspAspAspAsnAspGlyIleProAspAspLysAspAsnCysArgLeu                               900905910                                                                      ValProAsnProAspGlnLysAspSerAspGlyAspGlyArgGlyAsp                               915920925                                                                      AlaCysLysAspAspPheAspHisAspSerValProAspIleAspAsp                               930935940                                                                      IleCysProGluAsnValAspIleSerGluThrAspPheArgArgPhe                               945950955960                                                                   GlnMetIleProLeuAspProLysGlyThrSerGlnAsnAspProAsn                               965970975                                                                      TrpValValArgHisGlnGlyLysGluLeuValGlnThrValAsnCys                               980985990                                                                      AspProGlyLeuAlaValGlyTyrAspGluPheAsnAlaValAspPhe                               99510001005                                                                    SerGlyThrPhePheIleAsnThrGluArgAspAspAspTyrAlaGly                               101010151020                                                                   PheValPheGlyTyrGlnSerSerSerArgPheTyrValValMetTrp                               1025103010351040                                                               LysGlnValThrGlnSerTyrTrpAspThrAsnProThrArgAlaGln                               104510501055                                                                   GlyTyrSerGlyLeuSerValLysValValAsnSerThrThrGlyPro                               106010651070                                                                   GlyGluHisLeuArgAsnAlaLeuTrpHisThrGlyAsnThrProGly                               107510801085                                                                   GlnValArgThrLeuTrpHisAspProArgHisIleGlyTrpLysAsp                               109010951100                                                                   PheThrAlaTyrArgTrpArgLeuSerHisArgProLysThrGlyPhe                               1105111011151120                                                               IleArgValValMetTyrGluGlyLysLysIleMetAlaAspSerGly                               112511301135                                                                   ProIleTyrAspLysThrTyrAlaGlyGlyArgLeuGlyLeuPheVal                               114011451150                                                                   PheSerGlnGluMetValPhePheSerAspLeuLysTyrGluCysArg                               115511601165                                                                   AspPro                                                                         1170                                                                           __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing a F-spondin polypeptide which comprises growing a host vector system comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding vertebrate F-spondin, under conditions permitting production of the polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide so produced.
 2. A F-spondin polypeptide produced by the method of claim
 1. 3. Purified, vertebrate F-spondin polypeptide.
 4. A method of attaching nerve cells to a matrix comprising contacting the matrix with nerve cells and purified vertebrate F-spondin at a concentration effective to effect attachment of the cells to the matrix.
 5. A method of stimulating outgrowth of a nerve cell comprising administering purified vertebrate F-spondin to the nerve cell at a concentration effective to stimulate outgrowth of the nerve cell.
 6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and purified vertebrate F-spondin. 